TRANSPORT

Departmental Accountancy

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's  (a) chart of accounts and  (b) resource account codes and usage descriptions for the 2008-09 financial year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The chart of accounts for 2008-09, which has been placed in the Libraries of the House, reflects the Department's structure for that year and will not necessarily reflect the 2007-08 structure, or that for future years. The chart shows the relationship between parent codes (used for preparing resource accounts) and children codes (used for more detailed management purposes). Each code has a brief description that describes its use.

Departmental Furniture

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) chairs,  (b) desks and  (c) other office furnishings have been purchased by her Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not held centrally. It has been estimated that, due to the broad scope of this question and the decentralised and devolved structure of the Department, to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs. However, the information that is available is set out in the table below. This does not include in all cases information on specific categories of purchase as this is not recorded centrally.
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has replaced approximately 1,450 workstations per year over the last three years (April 2005 - March 2008) as part of a rolling refurbishment programme of the main headquarters site in Swansea. Each workstation includes a desk, chair, three drawer pedestal, back screen and monitor arm. Cost information is commercially confidential.
	Records of furniture purchased by the DVLA prior to this are not available.
	Data for the following Department for Transport organisational units is not available in the requested format and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost:
	DfT Central:
	London Headquarters buildings,
	Marine Accident Investigation Branch.
	Executive Agency:
	Maritime and Coastguard Agency,
	Vehicle Certification Agency and
	Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
	
		
			  £ 
			 DfT Central  Executive Agency 
			 Ashdown House, Hastings  Air Accidents Investigations Branch  Rail  A ccident  I nvestigation  B ranch (see note 1 )  Driving Standards Agency  Government Car and Despatch Agency  Highways Agency 
			  2003-04 a) Chairs Quantity 2 — — — — — 
			   Cost 390 — — — — — 
			  b) Desks Quantity 0 — — — — — 
			   Cost 0 — — — — — 
			  c) Other Quantity 0 — — — — — 
			   Cost 0 — — — — — 
			  Total Quantity 2 — — — — — 
			   Cost 390 9,391 — 63,000 8,388 65,630 
			  
			  2004-05 a) Chairs Quantity 20 — 121 — — — 
			   Cost 10,700 — 14,844 — — — 
			  b) Desks Quantity 210 — 37 — — — 
			   Cost 61,000 — 12,716 — — — 
			  c) Other Quantity 315 — 255 — — — 
			   Cost 54,300 — 26,969 — — — 
			  Total Quantity 545 — 413 — — — 
			   Cost 126,000 25,795 54,529 86,000 10,968 274,176 
			  
			  2005-06 a) Chairs Quantity 20 — 39 — — — 
			   Cost 3,900 — 3,497 — — — 
			  b) Desks Quantity 0 — 0 — — — 
			   Cost 0 — 0 — — — 
			  c) Other Quantity 0 — 218 — — — 
			   Cost 0 — 33,888 — — — 
			  Total Quantity 20 — 257 — — — 
			   Cost 3,900 41,952 37,385 48,000 7,141 124,252 
			  
			  2006-07 a) Chairs Quantity 77 — 3 — — — 
			   Cost 15,600 — 452 — — — 
			  b) Desks Quantity 0 — 0 — — — 
			   Cost 0 — 0 — — — 
			  c) Other Quantity 0 — 34 — — — 
			   Cost 0 — 2,417 — — — 
			  Total Quantity 77 — 37 — — — 
			   Cost 15,600 55,924 2,869 112,000 10,660 2,405,660 
			  
			  2007-08 a) Chairs Quantity 8 — 23 — — — 
			   Cost 2,100 — 4,789 — — — 
			  b) Desks Quantity 0 — 3 — — — 
			   Cost 0 — 1,198 — — — 
			  c) Other Quantity 0 — 72 — — — 
			   Cost 0 — 7,792 — — — 
			  Total Quantity 8 — 98 — — — 
			   Cost 2,100 27,117 13,779 375,000 12,199 366,412 
			  Note: 1. Rail Accident Investigation Branch became operational on 17 October 2005.

Departmental Public Participation

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2008,  Official Report, column 158W, on departmental public participation, what action  (a) has been taken and  (b) is planned in response to each survey listed in the Answer.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Research with members of the public, including that listed in the answer on 10 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 158-62W, forms an important part of the Department's evidence base. Monitoring customer satisfaction with transport services helps to underpin improvements to services. Research helps us to understand the transport needs and priorities of the public and is used to design, implement, and evaluate the impact of policy interventions. It also provides important insights into the links between attitudes and behaviour, and how best to bring about behavioural change. The Department's research also contributes to the development of awareness campaigns, such as Think! and Act on CO2, and monitors their impact. This ensures that the campaigns are effective, reach the target audience, and achieve value for money.
	Further information can be found in the Department's Evidence and Research Strategy. This is available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/scienceresearch/unitlevelevidence andresearch1905.

Driving Tests

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving test centres the Driving Standards Agency plans to operate in addition to the planned multi-purpose test centres.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 19 June 2008
	 Currently the Driving Standards Agency plans to operate a national network of 277 centres offering practical driving tests for car, lorry and bus drivers in addition to 66 multi-purpose test centres. A further 41 casual hire sites, mainly in Scotland, will also be operational.
	These plans will be kept under review and are subject to change depending on the business needs of the agency delivering a cost-effective and efficient service to the public.

Driving Tests: Fees and Charges

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she next plans to review the level of fees for  (a) car and  (b) motorcycle practical driving tests; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) reviews the fees set for all practical and theory driving tests and other functions each business year. Any fee proposals are based on the DSA business plan. DSA published its Business Plan 2008-09 in April 2008. DSA will consult later this year on any proposed changes so that revised fees are in place for 1 April 2009 the start of that business year.

Driving Tests: Scarborough

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has for the future of Scarborough Driving Test Centre; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 19 June 2008
	 From September 2008, motorcycle testing at Scarborough will move to the multi-purpose test centre in Hull, which is about 45 miles from Scarborough. Motorcycle test candidates will also have the option of travelling to York, some 40 miles from Scarborough, once the multi-purpose test centre there is acquired and operational.
	Practical car driving tests will continue to be carried out at Scarborough driving test centre.

Driving Tests: Southend

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many car and motorcycle tests were conducted at the Southend driving test centre in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of practical car and motorcycling tests conducted at the Southend driving test centre in each of the last 10 years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Car  Motorcycling  Total 
			 1998-99 7,687 479 8,166 
			 1999-2000 6,620 697 1,359 
			 2000-01 6,477 518 6,995 
			 2001-02 6,314 355 6,669 
			 2002-03 7,284 453 7,737 
			 2003-04 7,780 571 8,351 
			 2004-05 8,756 390 9,146 
			 2005-06 9,687 392 10,079 
			 2006-07 9,231 431 9,662 
			 2007-08 9,045 393 9,438

Driving Tests: Southend

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the proposed move of driving tests from the Southend Driving Test Centre to the Multi-Purpose Test Centre in Basildon will cost.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Based on similar relocations in the recent past the Driving Standards Agency would expect to spend around £5,000 in removal costs for moving from Southend Driving Test Centre to the Multi-Purpose Test Centre in Basildon if that is the final decision.

Driving Tests: Southend

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff are employed at the Southend driving test centre; and how many positions will be available for these staff if the centre is co-located with the Multi-Purpose Test Centre in Basildon.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) employs seven driving examiners at the Southend driving test centre.
	DSA will offer the driving examiners employed at Southend driving test centre the opportunity to take part in a preference exercise for alternative posts prior to any potential redeployment.
	If the centre is co-located to the Multi-Purpose Test Centre in Basildon, positions would be available for all the driving examiners currently employed at Southend.

Driving Tests: Southend

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the projected cost is of providing services to users who live within the current Southend catchment area if the Southend Driving Test Centre is co-located with the Multi-Purpose Test Centre in Basildon  (a) in total and  (b) per test.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driving Standards Agency does not hold the information required in this format and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Driving Tests: Southend

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the feasibility of Southend driving test centre being used for car driving tests only.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is currently reviewing the responses received to the recent consultation on the future of Southend driving test centre before a decision is made.

Driving Tests: Southend

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any steps have been taken by the Driving Standards Agency to identify a site in Southend that is suitable for motorcycle tests compliant with European Community Directive 2000/56/EC.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) initially focused its search for a suitable site for a multi-purpose test centre on the Chelmsford area. Following poor availability of suitable sites in Chelmsford the search area was widened to include Basildon.
	The search areas used are intended to bring the widest possible population coverage within DSA's criterion that most motorcycle customers should be within 20 miles or 45 minutes of a multi-purpose test centre.
	Owing to operational concerns over the potential redevelopment of the area around the existing Southend driving test centre, Southend was not considered as a specific search area for the location of a multi-purpose test centre.

Driving Tests: Southend

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account was taken of the Driving Standards Agency's travel distance criterion in proposing to co-locate the Southend Driving Test Centre with the Multi-Purpose Test Centre in Basildon.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The "Code of Practice on Written Consultations—Driving Test Centres" used by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) states that candidates in areas with a population density equal to or more than 1,250 persons per square kilometre customers should not have to travel further than seven miles to a driving test centre.
	The proposed site for the Multi-Purpose Test Centre in Basildon is some ten miles away from Southend. Therefore DSA has run a public consultation about the future of Southend driving test centre. This commenced on 13 February and closed on 9 May 2008. DSA is currently reviewing the responses received before a decision will be made. This is expected to be announced in August 2008.

Driving Tests: Southend

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the environmental impact of co-locating Southend Driving Test Centre with the Multi-Purpose Test Centre in Basildon; and what account was taken of  (a) people travelling from Southend to Basildon for driving lessons and  (b) time spent in traffic.

Jim Fitzpatrick: No environmental impact assessment has been prepared for the co-location of Southend Driving Test Centre with the Multi-Purpose Test Centre in Basildon. There is no requirement for the Driving Standards Agency to do so.
	All learner drivers should be taught to drive safely and confidently on a variety of roads rather than to follow test routes. So it should not be necessary for learner drivers to travel to Basildon from Southend for driving lessons, unless it is for pre-test familiarisation. This should minimise the environmental impact of those journeys and reduce the time spent in traffic.

Driving Tests: Standards

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Driving Standards Agency plans to review its code of practice with regard to guidance on  (a) population density and  (b) proximity to a driving test centre.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) currently has no plans to review its "Code of Practice on Written Consultations—Driving Test Centres."
	Ministers agreed the code of practice when it was revised in July 2005. This code of practice is available on the DSA website at:
	http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Consultation.asp?id=SXBAF2-A7825C59&cat=418

Motorcycles: Driving Tests

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many multi-purpose test centres (MPTCs) she estimates will be operational for motorcycle driving tests on 29 September 2008; and what estimate she has made of the greatest distance a candidate will have to travel to access a MPTC in  (a) England,  (b) Wales and  (c) Scotland on that date.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 19 June 2008
	The Driving Standards Agency estimates that 39 multi-purpose test centres (MPTCs) will be operational by 29 September 2008. There will also be up to 12 part time motorcycle test centres to support these MPTCs.
	These provisions will ensure that around 75 per cent. of motorcycle test candidates will be within 45 minutes or 20 miles of a motorcycle testing facility. In addition, around 93 per cent. of the population will be within 60 minutes of an MPTC and 98 per cent. within 90 minutes.
	No estimate has been made of the longest distance a candidate will have to travel.

Railways: South East

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of the draft determination of the Office of the Rail Regulator on  (a) platform lengthening at Royston and  (b) electric power upgrades on the line from Kings Cross to Cambridge; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: I am pleased that the Office of Rail Regulation has confirmed that the Government's specification for a substantial increase in rail capacity by 2014, with further improvements in reliability and safety, is affordable within the funds we have made available. Passengers at Royston will be among the many that will benefit from our widespread investment in the railways. Improving the power supply between Cambridge and Kings Cross, and lengthening the platforms at Royston and other stations, will enable longer trains to operate, meeting the growing peak demand.

Transport: Greater Manchester

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what time, on what date, in what form and by whom information on the matters covered in her Statement of 9 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 22-34, on transport (Greater Manchester), was made available to  (a) The Times,  (b) The Daily Telegraph and  (c) the Financial Times; and whether she authorised the releases of the information.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 12 June 2008
	Information relating to the matters covered in the Secretary of State's Statement on 9 June 2008 on transport in Greater Manchester was made available to all media in the form of a press release, issued by the Department for Transport's Communication Directorate at 3.48 p.m on 9 June.
	No information relating to the matters covered in that Statement was made available to The Times, The Daily Telegraph or the Financial Times by the Department in advance of the Statement being made by the Secretary of State.

Transport: Safety Measures

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the use of electronic stability control anti-skid systems; and what plans she has to encourage their more widespread use.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport sponsored a study in 2007 to consider the effectiveness of passenger car Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems in Great Britain. The research indicated that ESC-equipped passenger cars are involved in 25 per cent. fewer fatal road accidents and are 11 per cent. less likely to be involved in a serious accident.
	Officials have been active in agreeing international technical requirements for ESC systems. We anticipate that the European Commission will bring forward proposals for mandating ESC systems to the majority of new types of cars, heavy commercial vehicles and their trailers from October 2012.
	We welcome the introduction of ESC systems as a positive step to improving the safety of all road vehicles and have encouraged motorists to purchase ESC equipped vehicles.

TREASURY

Child Trust Fund: Gwent

Don Touhig: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many children were eligible for child trust fund vouchers in Islwyn constituency in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08;
	(2)  what percentage of eligible children in households in Islwyn constituency have  (a) received child trust fund vouchers and  (b) had child trust accounts opened for them.

Kitty Ussher: Constituency and regional data on Child Trust Fund accounts were published on 24 October 2007 and can be viewed on the HM Revenue and Customs' website at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/ctf/stats.htm

Departmental Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are employed by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies at each senior civil service grade.

Angela Eagle: The figures in the following table have been provided by individual Departments and represent the senior civil service grades as at 16 June 2008.
	
		
			   Grade 
			   Deputy director  Deputy director  Director  Director general 
			 Pay band 1 1A 2 3 
			  
			  Department: 
			 OGC 18 0 6 2 
			 OGC BS 3 0 1 0 
			 HM Treasury 79 0 16 7 
			 Royal Mint 1 0 1 0 
			 HMRC inc VOA 315 69 37 6 
			 DMO 0 0 1 0 
			 NSI 3 2 5 1 
			 GAD 0 0 1 0

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which individuals other than his Department's and HM Revenue and Customs' officials were present at meetings held with third party interest groups on changes to the system of vehicle excise duty before the 2008 Budget.

Angela Eagle: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Minimum Wage

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged  (a) under 18,  (b) under 21 and  (c) over 60 years were found to be being paid below the national minimum wage in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) sex and (ii) ethnicity.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC does not collect information which would allow them to determine the ethnic origins or age profile of underpaid workers. HMRC does hold information on gender profile of underpaid workers but not in the format requested. The following table shows the gender profile of underpaid workers.
	
		
			   Male  Female 
			 2003-04 5,026 4,402 
			 2004-05 5,801 5,460 
			 2005-06 11,257 14,057 
			 2006-07 4,989 9,200 
			 2007-08 10,475 8,789

National Insurance Contributions: Earnings Limits

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the merits of alignment of the upper earnings limit for National Insurance contributions with the higher rate threshold for income tax; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will estimate the value in terms of reduced costs to  (a) business and  (b) HM Revenue and Customs of alignment of the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions with the higher rate threshold for income tax.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the alignment of national insurance and tax thresholds; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Government remain committed to bringing the income tax and the national insurance contributions (NICs) systems closer together. The overall aim is to improve fairness and coherence, to reduce administrative burdens, and to make the two systems easier to understand.
	There has already been progress in aligning tax and NICs in terms of a simplified structure of employers' NICs, replacing multiple rates with a single rate and abolishing the entry fee. With just two main rates of income tax and two main rates of national insurance in this tax year, the UK's personal tax system is already one of the simplest personal tax structures of any developed country.
	Nevertheless, the Government are continuing to look at the scope for further alignment of tax and NICs taking into account the changes made on 13 May, and in future pre-Budget and Budget reports.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost to his Department is of providing care and support to troops injured during service in  (a) Afghanistan and  (b) Iraq in 2008-09.

Derek Twigg: The net additional costs of operations are recovered from the Treasury Reserve. The highly changeable nature of operations means that we are not able to provide accurate forecast costs for specific elements of operations for 2008-09. Our initial estimate of the net additional costs for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, for 2008-09, will be published in winter supplementary estimates.

Armed Forces: Housing

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many complaints were made to Modern Housing Solutions about service accommodation in each month since January 2008;
	(2)  how many complaints Modern Housing Solutions have received in each month since January 2008.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1015-16W to the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey).
	The answer also corrects the figures in my response of 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 876-77W for the period of May to December 2007.

Armed Forces: Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Westbury, (Dr. Murrison) of 1 April 2008,  Official Report, column 768W, on armed forces: influenza, what quantity of  (a) vaccines and  (b) antivirals are held by his Department for use by the armed forces for the treatment of seasonal influenza; where these stocks are held; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Defence Medical Services operate in accordance with the guidance issued by the Dept of Health and the Health Protection Agency (which issues annual advice on the prescription of antivirals). For the treatment of seasonal influenza, Defence Medical Services obtain vaccines and antivirals as required, through the UK Departments of Health (DH). Stocks will be held locally at unit medical centres and other medical facilities, and quantities will vary according to clinical requirement and day-to-day usage. Vaccinations and antivirals are prescribed for individuals by medical staff according to clinical need, following national guidance issued by the DH.
	It would not be practical to "stockpile" vaccines against seasonal influenza, since antigenic drifts (minor changes) of influenza viruses lead to the emergence of new viral strains every year. These minor changes cause seasonal influenza and explain why reformulation of the influenza vaccine is required every year.

Armed Forces: Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Westbury, (Dr. Murrison) of 3 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 127-8W, on the armed forces: influenza, how many antiviral courses are available to the armed forces to meet future operational demands; how many antiviral courses are held  (a) in the UK and  (b) overseas; in which countries the antiviral courses are held overseas; how many antiviral courses are held in each country; whether these antivirals are available for use by armed forces in the event of (i) seasonal and (ii) pandemic influenza; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Westbury, (Dr. Murrison) of 3 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 1207-8W, on the armed forces: influenza, what total quantity of antiviral courses is held in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan for use by the armed forces; what proportion of the total number of antiviral courses held in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan is allocated for the treatment of (A) pandemic influenza and (B) seasonal influenza; how many antivirals are held in other countries; in which countries they are held; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 3 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1208W, on armed forces: influenza, to which overseas bases the antiviral courses were distributed.

Derek Twigg: Around 17,500 courses of pandemic influenza antivirals earmarked for future operational demands are held in the UK by the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) on behalf of the Defence Equipment and Support organisation. PJHQ will authorise distribution of the appropriate quantities to operational theatres as required.
	In accordance with Defence Medical Services guidance, 10 antiviral courses have been pre-positioned in medical facilities overseas; five courses in the Role 2 (Enhanced) field hospital unit at Basra in Iraq and five in the one at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.
	A further 18,000 antiviral courses for use in the event of an outbreak of pandemic influenza have been distributed to overseas locations where MOD personnel and their dependents are based. The quantities have been calculated in accordance with Department of Health guidance, and stockholdings are kept under regular review.
	For seasonal influenza, guidance is that only "at risk" patients will be treated, and antivirals will be obtained through the normal supply chain in accordance with clinical requirement. Pre-deployment medical standards mean that such individuals would not be allowed to deploy on operations.

Armed Forces: Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Westbury, (Dr. Murrison) of 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 24W, on the armed forces: influenza, what assessment he has made of the speed at which the stockpile of antivirals held at Permanent Joint Headquarters may be deployed to theatre in the event of an influenza pandemic; how many face masks are held in  (a) Afghanistan,  (b) Iraq and  (c) other theatres; what other appropriate preventative measures he is considering; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: As stated in my answer to the hon. Member for Westbury (Dr. Murrison) of 3 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1207W, around 17,500 courses of influenza antivirals earmarked for future operational demands are held in the UK by the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) on behalf of the Defence Equipment and Support organisation. PJHQ will authorise distribution of the appropriate quantities to operational theatres as required. As with any logistic supplies, if the requirement is urgent antivirals can be deployed rapidly to theatre in accordance with well-established procedures.
	Face masks are a standard item of clinical equipment, and have a wide range of medical uses. Stocks sufficient for all requirements are held in field hospitals and other medical units in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. Precise holdings will fluctuate on a daily basis, being replenished through the standard logistics chain as required.
	Specific guidance on infection control in the event of an outbreak of pandemic influenza has been promulgated to all Defence Medical Services personnel and military commanders. This covers all appropriate medical procedures including hygiene, patient placement, and waste disposal, and includes specialised guidance on procedures in operational settings.

Armed Forces: Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Westbury, (Dr. Murrison) of 3 April,  Official Report, column 1207-08W, on armed forces; influenza, whether the stockpile of A/H5N1 vaccines for use by the armed forces in the event of an influenza pandemic is held in the UK.

Derek Twigg: The A/H5N1 vaccine stockpile is held in the UK by the Department of Health, which includes a ring-fenced allocation held on behalf of the MOD, and in the event of an outbreak will be deployed by MOD in accordance with DH guidelines and MOD need.

Armed Forces: Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Westbury, (Dr. Murrison) of 1 April 2008,  Official Report, column 786W, on armed forces: influenza, for which categories of armed forces personnel plans have been drawn up for the prophylactic use of antivirals; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: In the event of a threatened influenza pandemic, antivirals for prophylactic purposes may be prescribed for certain categories of key workers (such as military medical staff) in accordance with guidance issued by the UK Department of Health and MOD's Surgeon General. Their use will be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature and location of the outbreak.

Armed Forces: Planning

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the armed forces last operated within his Department's planning assumptions; and when he next expects the armed forces to be operating within these planning assumptions.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 19 June 2008
	As set out in the MOD's recent annual reports, the armed forces have been operating above our current planning assumptions since 2002. A return to operating within these assumptions will depend upon future commitments.

Defence: Thesauri

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the  (a) UK Defence Taxonomy and  (b) UK Defence Thesaurus.

Derek Twigg: The UK Defence Taxonomy is a living document and is therefore subject to alteration to accurately reflect the changing nature of UK Defence business. Moreover, due to the size of the document, and the dependencies within it, the Taxonomy is designed for electronic application and is most conveniently viewed in electronic format.
	The UK Defence Taxonomy is complemented by, and interlinked with, the UK Defence Thesaurus, and the two products are jointly known as the UK Defence Terminology. The UK Defence Thesaurus is an expansion of the UK Defence Taxonomy and provides greater detail.
	Electronic copies of both these publications will be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Assets

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with  (a) the devolved institutions and  (b) political parties on the allocation of receipts from the sale of assets held by his Department to (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland.

Derek Twigg: In line with HM Treasury guidance, receipts retained by the Ministry of Defence are reinvested by the Department in key priorities. Therefore, no discussions have been held with administrations regarding their allocation.

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value of the property held by  (a) his Department and  (b) associated public bodies was at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1310W to the hon. Member for Westbury (Dr. Murrison). The National Asset Register includes Executive Non- Departmental Public Bodies, Trading Funds and the Oil and Pipeline Agency and those assets used by the reserve forces and cadets association which are owned by the Ministry of Defence.

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the policy of his Department is on granting staff leave to attend criminal trials in order to provide  (a) a witness statement and  (b) evidence; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Special paid leave may be granted for attendance at a court of law if MOD employees are requested by the police or Crown Prosecution service to give evidence or a witness statement. A voluntary witness may be granted special unpaid leave.

Ex-servicemen: Mentally Ill

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces veterans were diagnosed with mental health problems in each of the last 15 years.

Derek Twigg: The information is not held by the MOD.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people aged  (a) 12 to 14,  (b) 15 to 16 and  (c) 17 years were (i) prosecuted and (ii) given a penalty charge notice for disorder for purchasing alcohol in the Peterborough City Council area in each year since 2001; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: There were no persons aged 12 to 18 who were proceeded against at magistrates courts in the Cambridgeshire police force area for the offence of purchasing alcohol by a person aged under 18 years for the years 2001 to 2006. It would not be possible to provide information for Peterborough city council, as data at this level of detail are not held centrally.
	In addition, under the Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) Scheme, established by the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, the police can issue a fixed penalty of £50 for the offence of "Buying or attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18" section 149(1) of the Licensing Act 2003 (c.17). No PNDs have been issued for the offence to anyone under 18 by Cambridgeshire police force in 2005 or 2006, the latest year for which confirmed data are available.

Animal Experiments: Primates

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which overseas primate supply or breeding facilities which export primates to the UK for the purposes of scientific research her Department has  (a) inspected and approved and  (b) not inspected in the last two years; what country each is in; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: 10 overseas centres are currently accepted to supply non-human primates to designated user establishments in the United Kingdom. Of these, four, in China, Vietnam and the Netherlands, have been visited by Home Office inspectors since June 2006. The remaining centres in the Netherlands, Israel, Mauritius and the United States of America have not been visited in that period.
	The acceptability of an overseas centre supplying non-human primates to UK designated establishments is reviewed at least once every two years. This biennial review takes into consideration all available information including full details of the breeding centre, submitted to the Home Office on a standard pro-forma, responses to specific questions on current care and accommodation, routine reports submitted by users following receipt of each consignment of animals and, where possible, informal reports from users who have visited the centre.
	Normally, centres will be visited every two to four years depending on the findings from the previous visit, the need to reassess on site and whether animals are being supplied from the site. Visits by the Inspectorate are risk based, depending on the need to monitor standards of husbandry and care or progress of improvements.

Extradition: USA

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will review the extradition treaty with the US with a view to ensuring that the UK is able to extradite suspects from the US under the same conditions pertaining to extradition from the UK to the US.

Meg Hillier: The Government consider that our extradition arrangements generally, and with the United States in particular, are balanced and fair and do not require amendment.
	The 'probable cause' test that the US requires of extradition requests made to it by the UK is broadly comparable to the requirement for "information" about the offence that the UK requires of the US ("information that would justify the issue of a warrant for the arrest of a person within the judge's jurisdiction...." - i.e., "reasonable suspicion"). To reintroduce the prima facie test would be to recreate an unequal relationship.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Kettering

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assessment she has made of the potential for Kettering constituency to become involved in the 2012 Olympic Games; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) are working hard to ensure that the benefits of 2012 reach across the UK and have established a Nations and Regions Group (NRG) to oversee this work chaired by Charles Allen. Kettering's involvement in the Games is represented through the Northamptonshire 2012 Steering Group. Northamptonshire is one of five county-level groups established by the County Sports Partnership across the region to maximise the benefits of 2012.
	The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and LOCOG expect to directly procure £6 billion worth of contracts. In January, the Olympic Family launched the London 2012 Business Network, helping businesses across the UK to access these contracts. CompeteFor is a key component of the Business Network, as it enables businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, across the UK to access contracts from the ODA and LOCOG supply chains. The ODA has already awarded 27 contracts to companies registered in the east midlands. Businesses in every constituency, including Kettering, should be encouraged to sign up and get support via the London 2012 website:
	http://www.london2012.com/business
	to compete for and win contracts.
	Additionally, one facility from Kettering—Kettering Leisure Village—offering three sports disciplines is to be included in the official London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide.
	I also understand there are plans to hold the 2008 Northamptonshire Cultural Olympiad festival (working title) in Kettering on 24 August. This will be held at Wicksteed Park— plans include live coverage of the Beijing closing ceremony and handover as well as a number of sports, arts and cultural events.

JUSTICE

Olympic Games

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department plan to attend the Beijing Olympic games; to what purpose in each case; and what estimate he has made of the cost.

Michael Wills: No Ministers or officials from the Ministry of Justice will be attending the Beijing Olympic games in an official capacity.

Prospects Project

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the objectives of the Prospects Project were; and if he will make a statement on its progress.

David Hanson: The Prospects programme was designed to reduce crime in local communities by assisting offenders with a history of drug taking to lead law-abiding lives. It offered such offenders a 12-16 week residential place with comprehensive services and support followed by identification of suitable accommodation where support was provided for up to six months in the community. It was originally aimed at drug-using offenders serving short prison sentences who became abstinent in custody and entered into voluntary support on release to the programme.
	The numbers of offenders dealt with by the programme were not as high as expected and following a commercial review it was considered that the costs of the programme outweighed the benefits being realised. This view was supported by independent evaluation. I consequently agreed to the closure of the programme on the 7 January 2008. Members of Parliament for the respective constituencies in which the hostels are located have been informed.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Bingo

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the future prospects for the bingo industry; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I hope to make a statement to the House on this and related matters shortly.

Culture: EU Grants and Loans

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the value of cultural grants made to UK organisations from the European Union's Regional Development Fund was in each year since 2000.

Margaret Hodge: The remit of my Department does not extend beyond England, but the current available figures for cultural grants made to English organisations from the European Union's Regional Development Fund since 2000 are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   ERDF 
			   Current spending  Capital gains  Total 
			 2000-01 6.6 22.0 28.8 
			 2001-02 6.0 15.7 21.7 
			 2002-03 7.3 6.5 13.8 
			 2003-04 7.0 11.6 18.6 
			 2004-05 5.1 8.7 13.8 
			 2005-06 5.0 6.0 11.0 
			 2006-07(1) 1.0 7.8 8.8 
			 2007-08(1) 1.0 11.4 12.4 
			 (1) Based on spending plans.  Note: All figures are from the HM Treasury Country and Regional Analysis Data Collection Exercise

Culture: EU Grants and Loans

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding  (a) the Arts Council,  (b) Arts Council regional offices,  (c) the Museum, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and  (d) MLA regional offices received from the EU (i) Structural Funds and (ii) Social Fund in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested, provided by the bodies in question, is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  MLA: EU Structural Funds  
			 MLA — — — — — 
			 East of England — — — — — 
			 East Midlands — — — 38,283 94,614 
			 London — — — — — 
			 North East — — — — — 
			 North West — — — — — 
			 South East — — — — — 
			 South West — — — — — 
			 West Midlands 500,000 — — — — 
			 Yorkshire — — — — — 
			   
			  MLA: EU Social Fund  
			 MLA — — — — — 
			 East of England — — — — — 
			 East Midlands — — — 31,554 9,270 
			 London — — — — 99,000 
			 North East — — 30,299 35,031 — 
			 North West — — — — — 
			 South East — — — — — 
			 South West — — — — — 
			 West Midlands — — — — — 
			 Yorkshire — — — — — 
			   
			  ACE: EU Structural Funds  
			 Arts Council — — — — — 
			 East of England — — — — — 
			 East Midlands — — — — — 
			 London — — — — — 
			 North East 805,613 1,569,630 969,743 903,920 945,860 
			 North West — — — — — 
			 South East — — — — — 
			 South West — — — — — 
			 West Midlands — — — — — 
			 Yorkshire — — — — — 
			   
			  ACE: EU Social Fund  
			 Arts Council — — — — — 
			 East of England — — — — — 
			 East Midlands — — — — — 
			 London — — — — — 
			 North East 1,210,340 85,433 1,118,139 799,863 568,859 
			 North West 75,000 — — — — 
			 South East — — — — — 
			 South West 25,884 196,664 23,865 — — 
			 West Midlands — — — — — 
			 Yorkshire — — — — —

Departmental Assets

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport over what period his Department depreciates the asset value of its  (a) vehicles,  (b) computer hardware,  (c) bespoke computer software,  (d) standard computer software,  (e) furniture and  (f) telecommunications equipment.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department has the following standard depreciation cycles:
	 (a) Vehicles—My Department does not have any vehicles and therefore no depreciation cycle applies.
	 (b) Computer hardware—three years.
	 (c) Bespoke computer software—three years.
	 (d) Standard computer software—three years.
	 (e) Furniture—five years;
	 (f) Telecommunications equipment—three years.

Departmental Homeworking

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff in his Department are authorised to work from home.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department currently has 50 members of staff authorised to work from home.

Departmental Trade Unions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which trades unions represent members of staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agency.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The trade unions representing staff in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are the Public and Commercial Services Union and the First Division Association. In the Royal Parks, the trade unions are the Public and Commercial Services Union and Prospect.

Listed Buildings

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many  (a) Grade I,  (b) Grade II and  (c) Grade III listed buildings are located in (i) Ribble Valley constituency, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) England.

Margaret Hodge: According to English Heritage, the number of listings in each grade in England, Lancashire and Ribble Valley is as follows:
	
		
			  Grade  England  Lancashire  Ribble Valley 
			 I 9,152 71 20 
			 II(1) 21,145 270 51 
			 II 342,217 5,094 890 
			 Total 372,514 5,435 961 
			 (1) Grade II are particularly important buildings of more than special interest 
		
	
	Information is held on the number of listings, rather than the number of buildings, as a listing may include groups of buildings. Information is not held on Grade III listed buildings as the classification was rendered obsolete in 1970. To clarify, the grades are defined as follows:
	Grade I buildings are those of exceptional interest;
	Grade II(1) are particularly important buildings of more than special interest;
	Grade II are of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them.

National Heritage Memorial Fund

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications were received by the National Heritage Memorial Fund in each year since 1997; what percentage of applications were successful; and what amount of grants was given out in each year.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested, as supplied by the National Heritage Memorial Fund, is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Financial year  NHMF applications received  Successful (percentage)  Grants awarded (£) 
			 1997-98 28 50 1,694,085 
			 1998-99 18 33 2,112,019 
			 1999-2000 10 60 4,653,761 
			 2000-01 11 64 4,903,157 
			 2001-02 10 50 2,599,607 
			 2002-03 7 71 22,016,500 
			 2003-04 7 100 7,724,048 
			 2004-05 10 60 2,186,395 
			 2005-06 29 79 5,493,237 
			 2006-07 20 75 6,166,346 
			 2007-08 16 81 16,397,985

Public Libraries: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public libraries there were in Essex in each of the last 15 years.

Margaret Hodge: The following table shows the total number of library service points in Essex open for 10 hours or more per week including mobiles. The table is compiled from figures published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in their report Public Library Statistics. Copies of this report are available in the House of Commons Library, including the most recent edition which also contains estimated figures for 2007-08.
	
		
			   Number 
			 1992-93 107 
			 1993-94 108 
			 1994-95 108 
			 1995-96 110 
			 1996-97 109 
			 1997-98 109 
			 1998-99 90 
			 1999-2000 90 
			 2000-01 90 
			 2001-02 90 
			 2002-03 90 
			 2003-04 89 
			 2004-05 89 
			 2005-06 86 
			 2006-07 86

Raoul Wallenberg

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what files are held by his Department on the Raoul Wallenberg (Memorial) Bill of Session 1989-90; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport holds no files on the Raoul Wallenberg (Memorial) Bill of session 1989-90.

Regional Sports Boards

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 661W, on regional sports boards, what the role of Sport England's regional offices is expected to be; how much he has allocated to them for each of the next three years; and how much will it cost to run them.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England will continue to maintain a strong regional presence through a network of nine area offices. The regional work will be more narrowly focused on:
	Managing relationships, advocacy and influencing at a local level to maintain the existing investment for community sport from the various local stakeholders;
	Sport England's statutory and non statutory planning functions;
	Taking an overview of sports facility provision within each area; and
	Managing the allocation of the remaining Community Investment Funds.
	The organisational structure which will deliver the Sport England 2008-11 strategy is being finalised and will be announced shortly. This will determine operating costs at a regional and national level. I have therefore asked Sport England to write to the hon. Member once the structure has been announced and budgets decided. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

Sports: ACP Countries

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance is available to sports national governing bodies relating to the application of the Cotonou Agreement to sport in the UK.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 5 June 2008
	We are waiting clarification from the European Commission on the application of the Cotonou Agreement for the freedom of movement of professional sports people within the European Community. We understand that the Commission will be issuing substantive clarification shortly. Any such clarification will inform any guidance issued to national sports governing bodies in the UK.

Sports: ACP Countries

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he has made representations to the EU on the impact of the Cotonou Agreement on the free movement of sportsmen and women; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 5 June 2008
	I have not made any representations to the EU over the impact of the Cotonou Agreement on the free movement of sports people. However, we look forward to the Commission's response on this matter which should provide guidance for sports national governing bodies in the UK.

Tourism: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department allocated to tourism in the Leeds Metropolitan District in each year since 2005.

Margaret Hodge: Central Government funding for the English regions (including the Leeds metropolitan district) is administered by the regional development agencies but is not ring-fenced for particular economic sectors, such as tourism. Since 2005 the DCMS has contributed £3.6 million to DBERR's Single Programme budget (the "Single Pot") in respect of the tourism responsibilities of the eight agencies outside London; and £1.9 million in support of the statutory tourism duties of the Greater London Authority.
	The regional development agencies themselves spent £52 million in 2005-06; £51.8 million in 2006-07; and £43.5 million in 2007-08 on tourism support.

Tourism: Marketing

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on marketing and promoting tourism in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: DCMS funding for VisitBritain is all spent on the marketing of Britain overseas, and of England within Britain and Europe. The budget for the last five years (in £ million) was:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Total  Overseas budget  Domestic budget 
			 2003-04 47.9 35.5 12.4 
			 2004-05 48.4 35.5 12.9 
			 2005-06 48.9 35.5 13.4 
			 2006-07 49.9 35.5 14.4 
			 2007-08 49.9 35.5 14.4 
		
	
	DCMS also provided £3.6 million in each of these years to the eight regional development agencies outside of London and £1.9 million for each of these years to the London Development Agency for the support of tourism.
	All of the DCMS funding for the London Development Agency is spent on the tourism marketing of the capital, and the promotion of its role as a gateway to the rest of the UK. It is for the regional development agencies outside London to decide on how best to use DCMS funding to support tourism in their regions. In 2007-08, all the agencies spent a total £43.5 million on supporting tourism.

Tourism: North West

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was allocated by his Department to tourism in the North West of England in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by category of expenditure.

Margaret Hodge: Central Government funding for the Regional Development Agencies (including the North West) is not ring-fenced for particular economic sectors, such as tourism. However, the Agencies have reported that their tourism spending totalled £43.5 million in 2007-08. Of that amount, DCMS contributed £3.6 million to DBERR's Single Programme budget (the "Single Pot") in respect of the tourism responsibilities of the eight Agencies outside London; and £1.9 million in support of the statutory tourism duties of the Greater London Authority.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Dementia: Yorkshire and the Humber

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the Medical Research Council plans to spend in 2009-10 on dementia research in  (a) Leeds university and  (b) Yorkshire and Humberside.

Ian Pearson: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. In 2006-07, MRC spent approximately £6.4 million on research on dementias in the UK. MRC is currently undertaking a strategic review on neurodegeneration. Recommendations from the review may help inform future levels of funding for dementias. MRC do not have set budgets for specific illnesses and research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. MRC welcome applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.

Departmental Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of his Department's employees are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: In my Department, the breakdown of staff is as follows:
	 (a) 434 male (49.7 per cent. of all staff),
	 (b) 440 female (50.3 per cent. of all staff),
	 (c) 56 declared from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds (6.4 per cent. of all staff),
	297 not known (34.0 per cent.), 16 prefer not to say (1.8 per cent.),
	 (d) 67 have declared a disability (7.7 per cent.), 451 not known (51.6 per cent.), 21 prefer not to say (2.4 per cent.),
	 (e) 66 declared as not heterosexual (7.6 per cent.), 337 not known (38.6 per cent.), 246 prefer not to say (28.1 per cent. ) - this category applies to ex-DFES figures only.
	The percentage proportions are based on a total of 874 staff in DIUS.
	Departmental records on the numbers of BME staff are based on voluntary self declaration on the basis of the categories used in the 2001 census. Records on the numbers of disabled staff are also solely based on voluntary self-declaration of being a disabled person as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act; and not connected in any way to a formal register of disability.

Olympic Games

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department plan to attend the Beijing Olympic Games; to what purpose in each case; and what estimate he has made of the cost.

David Lammy: Five Government Ministers will attend the games. The Minister for the Olympics will attend the whole games. The Prime Minister; the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; the Minister for Sport and the Minister for Trade Promotion and Investment will each attend a part of the games.
	The number of Government officials attending has not yet been finalised.

Science: Museums and Galleries

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans he has to assess the learning impact of science and discovery centres; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: DIUS and DCSF have funded Ecsite-UK as part of a £750,000 package. This funding supported a benchmarking project and grants for consortia of centres to explore new ways of collaborative working with each other to provide inreach and outreach activities to schools, and also included an assessment of available evidence on learning impact as part of a wider review of all impacts. The impact study element of the project can be viewed online at:
	www.ecsite-uk.net/reports/impact-of-science-discovery-centres.htm
	In response to the recommendations in the Science and Technology Committee's 2007 inquiry into the funding of science and discovery centres, and as subsequently discussed at the Westminster Hall debate on 15 May this year, my Department is currently commissioning independent research to assess the relative impact, effectiveness and value for money of science centres in comparison with other science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) delivery agents. Impact in this context will be measured in terms of effectiveness in delivering the Government's science and society (STEM and public engagement) goals. The procurement process for this work has begun, so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage. However, the Terms of Reference for this project have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Welsh Language

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the level of demand for the services provided by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental bodies to be provided in the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: DIUS makes an assessment of the need for provision of services in the Welsh language on a case by case basis. DirectGov, which provides on-line access to Government services and includes information for students in Further Education and Higher Education applying for courses and financial support, is available in Welsh. DIUS agencies and NDPBs also assess the need on a case-by-case basis.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Immigrants: Employment

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of migrants from  (a) Poland,  (b) Ukraine,  (c) Pakistan and  (d) Sri Lanka in Leeds Metropolitan District found full-time employment in each year since 2000.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 20 June 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on what percentage of migrants from (a) Poland (b) Ukraine (c) Pakistan and (d) Sri Lanka found full-time employment in Leeds Metropolitan District in each year since 2000.
	The Office for National Statistics compiles statistics on migrant workers for local areas from the Annual Population survey (APS) and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS). The National Statistics method for estimating the employment rate of migrant workers employed in the UK is based on the employment rate of people at a given time who were born outside the UK and of working age. This question has been answered on this basis. It means, for example, that some people who are UK nationals will be included in the figures. Those in full time employment are defined following International Labour Organisation definitions of employment with the respondent answering that they worked full time.
	Table 1, attached, shows estimates of the employment rate of persons who live in the Leeds Local Authority District in full time employment who were born in Poland, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Figures for Ukraine are not available. Estimates are obtained for the 12 month periods ending in February, for 2001 to 2004, from the annual LFS. The APS estimates from 2004 to 2006 are provided covering the 12 month periods ending in December. The most recently released estimate is also included, which covers the 12 month period ending in September 2007.
	The unweighted count (sample size) underpinning the estimates are also provided because at this geographic level they are inevitably small, especially for the earlier years. In addition some numbers in the table are not provided because the sample sizes are very small and risk being disclosive. The estimates are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty and special care should be taken on drawing conclusions on the basis of year-on-year comparisons.
	
		
			  Table 1: Employment rate and unweighted count of working age( 1)  people who were born in Poland, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who were in full time( 2)  employment( 3) , living in the Leeds local authority district, 2001-07 
			  Percentage and count 
			   Poland  Pakistan  Sri Lanka 
			   Rates (percentage)  Unweighted count( 4)  Rates (percentage)  Unweighted count( 4)  Rates (percentage)  Unweighted count( 4) 
			 October 2006-September 2007 73 19 40 7 — — 
			 January 2006-December 2006 71 23 37 4 — — 
			 January 2005-December 2005 52 7 44 9 — — 
			 January 2004-December 2004 (5)— (5)— 45 8 — — 
			 March 2003-February 2004 — — 56 7 — — 
			 March 2002-February 2003 (5)— — 28 3 — — 
			 March 2001-February 2002 — — 36 6 — — 
			 March 2000-February 2001 — — 36 6 — — 
			 '—' = Nil or negligible (1) Men aged 16-64, women aged 16-59. (2) Based on respondents' answers. (3) Based on International Labour Organisation definitions. (4) Number of respondents for numerator (number of people in full time employment). (5) Sample too small to provide estimates.  Note: The country of birth question in the APS/Annual LFS may undercount foreign born because: it excludes students in halls of residence who do not have a UK resident parent, it excludes people in most types of communal establishments (eg hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites), it is grossed to population estimates that only include long term migrants (staying 12 months or more).  Source: Annual Population Survey and local Labour Force Survey

Jobseeker's Allowance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to those circumstances when Jobseeker's Allowance claimants are told they must accept a job, whether the conditions include jobs that are paid by 100 per cent. commission.

James Plaskitt: Jobseeker's Allowance regulations treat all jobs classed as employed earners' employment, including those based on 100 per cent commission, in the same way.
	An employment officer, for example, may offer someone who has the relevant sales experience and looking for this type of work, a job based on 100 per cent. commission.
	Where the offer of the job is refused it will be referred to an independent decision maker who will determine whether the jobseeker can demonstrate "good cause" for their decision. Each case is judged on its individual circumstances, taking all available evidence into account in reaching the decision.
	Where the decision maker determines the jobseeker has not demonstrated good cause, they may lose entitlement to benefit for between one and 26 weeks.

National Insurance Contributions: Females

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by what means women who opted to pay the married woman's rate of national insurance contributions prior to the abolition of the half test were advised of  (a) its abolition and  (b) the implications of its abolition for their continued election to pay contributions at the reduced rate.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 16 June 2008
	The abolition of the half test for women reaching state pension age after 5 April 1979 was part of a package to encourage married women to make independent pension arrangements and to revisit their election choice. The main thrust of the early publicity was a national press advertising campaign commissioned by DSS during February and March 1977. The programme was designed to give optimum, cost effective coverage of the main target group, working housewives. In addition, there was extensive editorial news and feature coverage in newspapers, magazines, and on radio and television. According to DSS records the published articles all stressed the importance of married women making decisions on their national insurance contributions position.
	Leaflets, available at local offices, were distributed by DSS. Specifically, Leaflet NP25 entitled "PENSIONS: Britain's great step forward" issued in August 1975 and Leaflet NP31 entitled "New Pensions: a better deal for women" issued in January 1977 drew attention to the abolition of the half test. Leaflet NI1 entitled "National insurance guidance for married women" issued in February 1978 dealt extensively with the implications of election choice and invited women who were proposing to change their choice and were unsure that they would be able to satisfy the contribution conditions for basic pension to consult their local social security office who would usually get their individual contribution record before giving advice.

Poverty: Liverpool

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of measures to tackle worklessness in Liverpool, Riverside constituency; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of measures to tackle poverty in Liverpool, Riverside constituency.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 June 2008
	Work is the best route out of poverty. For example, children in working households are much less likely to be in poverty than those living in households where no one is working. The Government have made considerable progress in tackling worklessness through national back-to-work programmes such as New Deal and Pathways to Work, as well as local initiatives such as Step Closer 2 Work.
	Since 1997 the number of unemployed people in the Liverpool Riverside constituency has fallen by 45 per cent., the number of lone parents claiming benefit has fallen by 28 per cent. and the number of people claiming incapacity benefits has fallen by 17 per cent. Specific information on the level of poverty are not available below regional level.
	However we recognise that there is more to do.
	In August the Jobcentre Plus District for Liverpool Riverside will start a campaign targeting over 2,000 small to medium-size employers, encouraging them to work with us in local employment partnerships. This will open up job opportunities for those of our customers who have found it difficult to take advantage of the employment opportunities that exist across the district. Across Liverpool the working neighbourhoods fund is investing over £3 million in 2008-09 and the deprived area fund over £2 million to improve employment opportunities. Jobcentre Plus have also been working with the local authority and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs to improve the transition when people move between welfare and work.

Vertex Data Science

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times he met the Chief Executive of Vertex Data Science Ltd. in each of the last three years.

Anne McGuire: Neither the Secretary of State nor any of his predecessors have met with the Chief Executive of Vertex Data Science Ltd. in any of the last three years.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Age: Discrimination

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2684W, on age: discrimination, what the terms of reference of the research commissioned by her Department on the costs and benefits of eliminating age discrimination in health and social care provision are.

Barbara Follett: The briefs for the two literature reviews commissioned by the Department of Health were:
	for a rapid literature review with the key focus on costs (and if possible benefits) of removing age discrimination in social care and mental health services with particular emphasis on international literature (Centre for Policy on Ageing); and
	to summarise the theoretical literature in order to explore what are the specific age-based criticisms and defences of cost-effectiveness analysis within the literature, to what degree could alternative methods address the different equity concerns raised within the debate, and related issues (university of Leeds).
	The briefs for the two research studies commissioned by the Department of Health were:
	 On social care (university of Kent):
	to investigate the extent, reasons for and impact of any age discrimination in the commissioning and provision of adult social services;
	to produce an estimate of the costs of eliminating any such age discrimination, on the basis that services for the disadvantaged group would be levelled up to those of the advantaged group;
	to prepare a report setting out findings from the study, including details of caveats, and suggestions for any further research on this topic.
	 On mental health (London School of Economics/university of Swansea):
	to explore the extent of age discrimination in mental health services. Three broad issues are addressed: inequalities between adult and older people's mental health services; inequalities between adults and older people with mental health problems in their use of health and social care services; and knowledge about the likely single equalities legislation in current services and the possible costs of implementation.

Age: Discrimination

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2684W, on age: discrimination, whether the research commissioned by her Department on the costs and benefits of eliminating age discrimination in health and social care provision has examined the issues in relation to those under 18 years.

Barbara Follett: The research commissioned by the Department of Health considered age discrimination in relation to adults (aged 18 and over), in keeping with the proposal in the consultation paper "A Framework for Fairness" that any legislation to ban unfair age discrimination would deal with adults but not with people under 18.

Age: Discrimination

Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on proposals for implementing a positive duty on public bodies to promote age equality; and if she will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: Throughout the progression of the Equality Bill, I and my officials have been in close contact with colleagues in a number of key departments including the Department of Health, Department of Work and Pensions, the Treasury and others, to discuss among other things the proposals for a single public sector duty. Our proposals for the Bill will be included in the Government's response to the Discrimination Law Review consultation, which will be published shortly.

Clubs: Membership

Dai Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what representations she has received on the applicability of sexual discrimination legislation to the membership rules of private members' clubs; and if she will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The Government consulted on the issue of discrimination in private member clubs in their consultation on proposals for an Equality Bill which closed in September last year. Nearly 200 responses were received on this issue. The Government will publish their response to the consultation shortly.

Consumers: Protection

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if she will commission research into the incidence of discrimination in the supply of goods and services to children and young people under 18 years of age on the basis of their age; and if she will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The consultation paper on proposals for the Equality Bill, "A Framework for Fairness", signalled that the Government were considering the case for prohibiting age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services and that they considered any legislation should only apply to those aged 18 and over. Nevertheless, during the consultation process the Government commissioned the Children's Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) to organise an event at which a cross-section of children discussed their own experiences of age discrimination. A report of the event is available on CRAE's website. In addition, a number of consultation responses raised the issue of age discrimination against those aged under 18. The Government will publish their response to the consultation shortly.

Departmental Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many and what proportion of staff working in the Government Equalities Office are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if she will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: In the Government Equalities Office 40 per cent. of staff are male and 60 per cent. are female. Complete information for the other categories is not available as declaration of ethnic background and disabled status is voluntary and information on civil servants' sexual orientation is not collected.

Departmental Responsibilities

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality 
	(1)  what  (a) projects,  (b) initiatives and  (c) programmes the Government Equalities Office has (i) started and (ii) concluded since its creation;
	(2)  what projects have been carried out by the Government Equalities Office since its creation, excluding those projects carried out by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Women's National Commission, and the former Equalities Commissions;
	(3)  what projects the Government Equalities Office has taken the lead on since its establishment.

Barbara Follett: Since its creation the Government Equalities Office has undertaken a wide range of projects and initiatives. These include work on the setting up of the Equality and Human Rights Commission; developing and undertaking preparatory work to deliver the Equalities Public Services Agreement; managing the consultation and policy development work relating to proposals for a new Equality Bill, and undertaking a variety of initiatives relating to the Minister for Women's Priorities set out in Command Paper Cm 7183.
	More detailed information about the work and achievements of the Government Equalities Office will be set out in its first departmental report due to be published later this year.

Departmental Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality when the Government's Equalities Office's green transport plan was introduced; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the plan.

Barbara Follett: The Government Equalities Office, which was established in October 2007, is a small department of some 80 people based in central London. Its staff use public transport and, given these circumstances, the GEO has not introduced a Green Transport Plan.

Equality

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of people who do not feel they have been treated with dignity and respect from  (a) disadvantaged and  (b) non-disadvantaged backgrounds for use as a baseline against performance for indicator five in the 2008 to 2011 PSA 15; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of people who feel they have been discriminated against for use as a baseline for performance against indicator 4 in the 2008 to 2011 PSA 15; and if she will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 5 June 2008
	 In respect of tackling discrimination (indicator 4), we will use responses to the 2008 Citizenship Survey to inform a baseline. This is because previous surveys did not separately identify disability-related discrimination. Baseline data based on the revised questions will be available in July 2009.
	For reducing unfair treatment (indicator 5), we are considering whether early evidence from the 2007 Citizenship Survey is suitably robust to inform a baseline.
	We will publish high-level delivery plans for PSA15 by the summer, which will include the baseline information available at that time for all of the PSA indicators. We will report twice-yearly thereafter on progress in delivering the PSA, beginning in October 2008.

Prisoners: Females

Julie Morgan: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the implementation of the recommendations of the Corston Report on the needs of vulnerable women in prison.

Barbara Follett: The Minister for Women has had a number of discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on implementing Baroness Corston's recommendations. We are fully committed to reducing the number of vulnerable women in prison. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Maria Eagle) will make a statement on progress six months on from the recommendations.

Welsh Language

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent assessment she has made of the level of demand for the services provided by the Government Equalities Office to be provided in the Welsh language; and if she will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The Government Equalities Office provides a Welsh language translation of documents in downloadable PDF form through its website where appropriate. We do not have records of how often these are downloaded.

HEALTH

Ambulances: Fuels

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contingency plans his Department has for the provision of fuel for ambulances during periods of fuel shortages.

Ben Bradshaw: The arrangements for accessing fuel for ambulances are handled at the local level. The Department encourages all national health service organisations to establish contingency plans in line with business continuity management advice and guidance, of which the sourcing of fuel is one element. It is the responsibility of each ambulance trust to put in place local arrangements to mitigate the effects of fuel shortages.
	The Government have also established emergency provisions, as a part of the National Emergency Plan—Fuel, which can be invoked should the emergency services be unable to obtain fuel.

Continuing Care

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received continuing care  (a) in total and  (b) per 50,000 of population in each primary care trust area in England in (i) the last quarter of 2007-08 and (ii) the first quarter of 2008-09.

Ivan Lewis: The information for 2007-08 is shown in the following table. However information for the first quarter of 2008-09 is not available.
	
		
			  Number of people receiving continuing national health service healthcare, England, quarter four 2007-08 
			  Org. code  Organisation  Number of people receiving continuing NHS healthcare  Number of people receiving continuing NHS healthcare per 50,000 population 
			  England 38,168 38 
			 
			 5HG Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust 415 69 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT 155 47 
			 5A9 Barnet PCT 313 47 
			 5JE Barnsley PCT 60 13 
			 SET Bassetlaw PCT 23 11 
			 5FL Bath and North East Somerset PCT 421 115 
			 5P2 Bedfordshire PCT 162 20 
			 5QG Berkshire East PCT 379 50 
			 5QF Berkshire West PCT 246 27 
			 TAK Bexley Care Trust 135 32 
			 5PG Birmingham East and North PCT 183 23 
			 5CC Blackburn With Darwen PCT 46 15 
			 5HP Blackpool PCT 72 26 
			 5HQ Bolton PCT 169 32 
			 5QN Bournemouth and Poole PCT 283 45 
			 5NY Bradford and Airedale PCT 261 26 
			 5K5 Brent Teaching PCT 567 101 
			 5LQ Brighton and Hove City PCT 731 142 
			 5QJ Bristol PCT 217 26 
			 5A7 Bromley PCT 167 28 
			 5QD Buckinghamshire PCT 373 38 
			 5JX Bury PCT 37 10 
			 5J6 Calderdale PCT 156 39 
			 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 245 22 
			 5K7 Camden PCT 115 25 
			 5NP Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 221 25 
			 5NG Central Lancashire PCT 243 28 
			 5C3 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 215 48 
			 5QP Cornwall and Isles Of Scilly PCT 660 63 
			 5ND County Durham PCT 529 52 
			 5MD Coventry Teaching PCT 441 68 
			 5K9 Croydon PCT 987 149 
			 5NE Cumbria PCT 115 11 
			 5J9 Darlington PCT 99 51 
			 5N7 Derby City PCT 222 41 
			 5N6 Derbyshire County PCT 789 57 
			 5QQ Devon PCT 853 59 
			 5N5 Doncaster PCT 360 62 
			 5QM Dorset PCT 819 108 
			 5PE Dudley PCT 296 49 
			 5HX Ealing PCT 80 13 
			 5P3 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 207 19 
			 5NH East Lancashire PCT 129 17 
			 5NW East Riding Of Yorkshire PCT 48 8 
			 5P7 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 181 28 
			 5QA Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 329 23 
			 5C1 Enfield PCT 208 39 
			 5KF Gateshead PCT 162 42 
			 5QH Gloucestershire PCT 101 9 
			 5PR Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 79 18 
			 5A8 Greenwich Teaching PCT 303 66 
			 5NM Halton and St. Helens PCT 201 33 
			 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 75 22 
			 5QC Hampshire PCT 1,740 71 
			 5C9 Haringey Teaching PCT 210 44 
			 5K6 Harrow PCT 277 70 
			 5D9 Hartlepool PCT 133 73 
			 5P8 Hastings and Rother PCT 155 45 
			 5A4 Havering PCT 301 64 
			 5MX Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 267 47 
			 5CN Herefordshire PCT 149 43 
			 5NQ Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 105 26 
			 5AT Hillingdon PCT 394 82 
			 SHY Hounslow PCT 295 67 
			 5NX Hull PCT 187 34 
			 5QT Isle of Wight NHS PCT 192 70 
			 5K8 Islington PCT 135 36 
			 5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT 205 54 
			 5A5 Kingston PCT 74 22 
			 5N2 Kirklees PCT 246 32 
			 5J4 Knowsley PCT 118 39 
			 5LD Lambeth PCT 249 43 
			 5N1 Leeds PCT 677 45 
			 5PC Leicester City PCT 163 27 
			 5PA Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 352 28 
			 5LF Lewisham PCT 249 49 
			 5N9 Lincolnshire PCT 77 6 
			 5NL Liverpool PCT 285 32 
			 5GC Luton PCT 245 67 
			 5NT Manchester PCT 543 57 
			 5L3 MedwayPCT 177 33 
			 5PX Mid Essex PCT 98 14 
			 5KM Middlesbrough PCT 159 55 
			 5CQ Milton Keynes PCT 61 13 
			 5D7 Newcastle PCT 125 24 
			 5C5 Newham PCT 215 42 
			 5PQ Norfolk PCT 301 21 
			 5PW North East Essex PCT 83 13 
			 TAN North East Lincolnshire Care Trust 123 37 
			 5NF North Lancashire PCT 200 31 
			 5EF North Lincolnshire PCT 103 33 
			 5M8 North Somerset PCT 70 18 
			 5PH North Staffordshire PCT 133 33 
			 5E1 North Tees PCT 167 45 
			 5D8 North Tyneside PCT 160 39 
			 5NV North Yorkshire and York PCT 232 15 
			 5PD Northamptonshire PCT 391 30 
			 TAC Northumberland Care Trust 216 35 
			 5EM Nottingham City PCT 144 24 
			 5N8 Nottinghamshire County PCT 353 28 
			 5J5 Oldham PCT 219 49 
			 5QE Oxfordshire PCT 364 30 
			 5PN Peterborough PCT 71 24 
			 5F1 Plymouth Teaching PCT 434 88 
			 5FE Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 209 53 
			 5NA Redbridge PCT 181 38 
			 5QR Redcar and Cleveland PCT 65 24 
			 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 104 30 
			 5H8 Rotherham PCT 122 25 
			 5F5 Salford PCT 250 56 
			 5PF Sandwell PCT 80 13 
			 5NJ Sefton PCT 161 30 
			 5N4 Sheffield PCT 299 28 
			 5M2 Shropshire County PCT 280 49 
			 TAM Solihull Care Trust 136 33 
			 5QL Somerset PCT 214 21 
			 5M1 South Birmingham PCT 104 15 
			 5P1 South East Essex PCT 65 10 
			 5A3 South Gloucestershire PCT 32 7 
			 5PK South Staffordshire PCT 310 27 
			 5KG South Tyneside PCT 117 39 
			 5PY South West Essex PCT 62 8 
			 5L1 Southampton City PCT 238 49 
			 5LE Southwark PCT 161 32 
			 5F7 Stockport PCT 161 29 
			 5PJ Stoke on Trent PCT 148 29 
			 5PT Suffolk PCT 152 13 
			 5KL Sunderland Teaching PCT 304 55 
			 5P5 Surrey PCT 548 26 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT 194 26 
			 5K3 Swindon PCT 79 21 
			 5LH Tameside and Glossop PCT 191 42 
			 5MK Telford and Wrekin PCT 214 66 
			 TAL Torbay Care Trust 682 247 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT 195 46 
			 5NR Trafford PCT 60 14 
			 5N3 Wakefield District PCT 173 26 
			 5M3 Walsall Teaching PCT 534 107 
			 5NC Waltham Forest PCT 124 27 
			 5LG Wandsworth PCT 60 11 
			 5J2 Warrington PCT 108 28 
			 5PM Warwickshire PCT 497 49 
			 5PV West Essex PCT 75 14 
			 5P4 West Hertfordshire PCT 307 29 
			 5P9 West Kent PCT 300 23 
			 5P6 West Sussex PCT 1,151 75 
			 5NN Western Cheshire PCT 131 27 
			 5LC Westminster PCT 186 40 
			 5QK Wiltshire PCT 325 38 
			 5NK Wirral PCT 112 18 
			 5MV Wolverhampton City PCT 227 48 
			 5PL Worcestershire PCT 235 22 
			  Source: Department of Health form: Local delivery plan return Commissioner; general practitioner membership populations—attribution data set 2007 reconciled to Office for National Statistics mid 2006 estimates for local authorities (minus special populations), and the Information Centre for Health and Social Care.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  with reference to page 148 of his Department's annual report 2008, what percentage of the  (a) primary care trust allocations and  (b) NHS Trust and FT capital budgets have already been allocated;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1672-3W, on departmental public expenditure, what capital plans his Department has agreed for 2008-09; how much was allocated for each in 2008-09; and what the indicative allocations are for  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11 for each;
	(3)  how much has been set aside in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11 to cover the costs of the arrangements to fund the local investment plans of (i) primary care trusts, (ii) foundation trusts and (iii) NHS trusts.

Ben Bradshaw: The amounts allowed on page 148 of Departmental Report 2008 for primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities (SHAs) capital expenditure and that of national health service trusts and foundation trusts (FTs) are £0.8 billion and £2.7 billion respectively.
	As explained in my answer of 15 May 2008, PCTs and NHS trusts are no longer subject to the formulaic capital allocations of recent years. Under the new capital regimes established for them, capital for investment by PCTs and NHS trusts is allocated in response to plans that they submit at the start of the year, as part of their annual planning process.
	The process for 2008-09 is not yet complete, as had been anticipated in the answer of 15 May 2008. It is however well advanced, with individual NHS trusts, and PCTs, plans having been checked for accuracy by SHAs and with the position across most SHA patches validated by the Department. The SHAs and Departmental officials are now broadly satisfied with the majority of the plans and should be able to approve them in the next few weeks.
	As capital plans have not yet been approved, none of the capital funding identified for expenditure by PCTs or NHS Trusts in 2008-09 has so far been formally allocated. For the NHS trusts and FTs, however, approaching £1.8 billion of the cash that is spent on capital investment is provided through the cash-funding of depreciation in their revenue income. NHS trusts have had confirmation that they may invest this capital funding, which equates to about 65 per cent. of the £2.7 billion that is stated on page 148 of the Departmental Report 2008 as being available to fund capital investment by NHS trusts and FTs.
	FTs are not subject to capital allocations or required to submit financial plans to the Department in the same way as PCTs and NHS trusts. Under their capital regime, the majority of their investment is funded with cash retained from their operations and any property disposals, and through borrowing from the departmentally operated FT financing facility.
	Included in the £0.8 billion identified in the Departmental Report 2008 for SHAs and PCTs was a total of £0.497 billion for expenditure on PCTs, own local investment plans in 2008-09, of which £0.097 million was expected to be released through the PCTs' own property disposals. The remaining £0.4 billion of capital resources that was to be provided by the Department had already been notified to PCTs in 'The Operating Framework For the NHS in England 2008-09', which was published in December 2007. This document also advised that the Department would contribute £0.48 billion towards PCTs' local investment plans in 2009-10 and £0.565 billion in 2010-11. The £0.48 billion and £0.565 billion do not include any anticipated contribution from PCTs' property disposals. Copies of this document are available in the Library
	The £2.7 billion identified in the Departmental Report 2008 for NHS trusts and FTs capital expenditure included £2.165 billion for expenditure on trusts' local capital investment plans, of which £0.159 billion was expected to be released through the trusts' own property disposals. There is no fixed split of the £2.165 billion into a budget for NHS trusts and FTs. This is because the expenditure of each of these sectors will depend on the number of trusts that achieve foundation status in the year.
	The allowances for the local capital investment priorities of PCTs and NHS trusts in 2008-09 may be adjusted as part of the process referred to above of validating and signing off the plans of local NHS Trusts and PCTs.
	Capital budgets to cover the local investment plans of NHS trusts and FTs in 2009-10 and 2010-11 and indicative capital allocations for NHS trusts and PCTs for those years have not yet been agreed or announced.

Diabetes: Nurses

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialist diabetes nurses were employed in the NHS in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The information is not collected centrally.
	The annual national health service workforce census does not separately identify the nurses.
	The Government have supported the development of a range of specialist roles within nursing. It is for local NHS organisations to invest in training for specialist skills and to deploy specialist nurses in accordance with their local needs.

Doctors: Working Hours

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of doctors  (a) working in the NHS and  (b) required by the NHS to meet requirements under the Working Time Directive in each of the next five years, broken down by (i) specialism and (b) grade.

Ann Keen: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1541-42W.

General Practitioners

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his policy that primary care trusts may expand existing doctors' practices in under-doctored areas by employing more general practitioners rather than creating a new practice in circumstances where the primary care trust considers that this would be the most effective means by which to increase access to general practitioners.

Ben Bradshaw: The additional funding provided to primary care trusts (PCTs) in poorly served areas is to secure additional new primary care capacity through an open and fair transparent procurement process. This does not preclude existing general practitioner practices putting forward tenders to expand existing services and capacity that meet their local PCTs service specifications.

NHS: Training

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many applications for income-assessed NHS student bursaries were received in each of the last five years; how many applicants were successful; and how much was paid in such bursaries;
	(2)  how many applications were received for non-income assessed NHS student bursaries in each of the last five years; how many applicants were successful; and how much was paid in such bursaries.

Ann Keen: The number of students for whom the NHS Student Bursaries Unit received and assessed an NHS bursary application form, the number of NHS bursary holders in training and the amount of NHS bursary paid for both income assessed bursaries and non-income assessed bursaries in each of the last five years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Academic year  Number of students for whom a NHS bursary award assessed  Number of NHS bursary holders in training  Amount of NHS bursary paid (£) 
			 Income-assessed bursaries
			 2002-03 27,176 26,594 67,945,615 
			 2003-04 31,044 30,293 79,974,536 
			 2004-05 34,083 33,339 94,014,031 
			 2005-06 37,197 36,272 113,840,537 
			 2006-07 39,657 38,600 126,273,938 
			 
			 Non-income-assessed bursaries
			 2002-03 53,103 52,364 279,084,394 
			 2003-04 54,999 54,175 293,778,507 
			 2004-05 55,669 55,239 318,773,305 
			 2005-06 56,001 55,322 334,132,328 
			 2006-07 54,748 53,974 334,731,614 
			  Notes: Number of students for whom a NHS Bursary award assessed is shown rather than number of applications because: 1. Non-income-assessed award holders do not need to make an application for any other academic year other than the first academic year for their basic bursary entitlement, if the data showed the number of applications received, the number would be approximately one-third of the number of awards assessed which would inflate the figures when comparing with total amount of NHS bursary paid. 2. If an application is received and returned for more information, NHS Student Bursaries do not hold the data on the number received and returned. 3. If an application is received, and rejected on residency eligibility grounds, NHS Student Bursaries receive the application, but do not assess their entitlement as they are rejected before that assessment is made. 4. If an application is received, but NHS Student Bursaries need more information to determine if they are eligible on residency grounds, they have received that application, but do not assess their entitlement information until the student provides the additional information.  Source: National Health Service Business Services Authority Student Bursaries Unit

NHS: Working Hours

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the completion of the NHS National Workforce Projects pilots in relation to the European Working Time Directive.

Ann Keen: NHS National Workforce Projects have been commissioned by the Department to support national health service trusts with implementation of the European Working Time Directive for doctors in training and to ensure that learning from the pilots is supported and embedded into the NHS.

Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings he has had with the South Central Strategic Health Authority to discuss the future of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The decision about the future of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust is a matter for the local national health service.
	More generally, the Department monitors and manages delivery of its key performance indicators for the NHS through strategic health authorities (SHAs), focusing on the priorities as laid out in the Operating Framework—The NHS in England: The Operating Framework for 2008-09, copies of this publication are available in the Library. Officials from the Department liaise regularly with South Central SHA to review performance against priorities.

Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the current level of the national tariff on the finances of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.

Ben Bradshaw: An impact analysis was undertaken prior to the publication of the national tariff for 2008-09. This analysis compared income under the 2008-09 tariff to income under the 2007-08 tariff based on 2005-06 activity levels. This indicated that the changes to the tariff in 2008-09 would be financially beneficial to the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust.

Social Services: Training

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to launch the social care skills academy.

Ivan Lewis: The intention is for the social care skills academy to be operational from March 2009. The process of developing the social care skills academy is being led by social care employers, facilitated and supported by the Department. An expression of interest in becoming a National Skills Academy will be submitted to the Learning and Skills Council by 15 July 2008.

Strokes

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) males and  (b) females of each age group diagnosed with a transient ischaemic attack in each health authority area in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: This information has been placed in the Library.
	It should be noted that these figures are based on hospital episode statistics. Some cases of transient ischaemic attack will not be admitted into hospital and will not be counted.

Strokes: Rehabilitation

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to encourage improvements in support for people with communication disabilities following a stroke.

Ann Keen: The new National Stroke Strategy, published in December 2007, sets out 20 quality markers for the provision of high quality treatment and care for adult stroke survivors. Seven of those quality markers link directly to the kind of support and services which those who have had a stroke and their carers need in the community. These include support with communication disabilities and other high quality rehabilitation, information, advice, practical and peer support throughout the care pathway, in line with individual need. Copies of this publication are available in the Library.
	In addition to the funding that has gone to primary care trusts, £105 million of central funding over three years will support implementation. This includes £45 million to local authorities (LAs) to help them develop or accelerate their existing provision of long-term support to those who live with the effects of a stroke. We expect that LAs will work with their NHS partners in this. The strategy recognises that some people who have had a stroke, including those with aphasia and other communication difficulties, will have specific support needs. We expect that LAs will use some of the new funding we have made available to meet these needs in line with local needs and priorities.

Strokes: Speech Impaired

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to increase access to communication support services for people who have suffered strokes in  (a) England and  (b) Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what NHS funding is available to help people recover from the loss of communication skills following strokes in  (a) England and  (b) Gloucestershire in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Information is not collected centrally for national health service funding that is available to help people recover from the loss of communication skills by people who have suffered strokes in England and Gloucestershire in each of the last five years.
	The new 'National Stroke Strategy', published in December 2007, sets out 20 quality markers for the provision of high quality treatment and care for adult stroke survivors. Of those quality markers, seven link directly to the kind of support and services which those who have had a stroke and their carers need in the community. These include support with communication disabilities and other high quality rehabilitation, information, advice, practical and peer support throughout the care pathway, in line with individual need. Copies of the strategy are available in the Library.
	In addition to the funding that has gone to primary care trusts, £105 million of central funding over three years will support implementation. This includes £45 million to local authorities (LAs) to help them develop or accelerate their existing provision of long-term support to those who live with the effects of a stroke. We expect that local authorities will work with their NHS partners in this. The strategy recognises that some people who have had a stroke, including those with aphasia and other communication difficulties, will have specific support needs. We expect that LAs will use some the new funding we have made available to meet these needs in line with local needs and priorities.

Wheelchairs

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2401W, on wheelchairs, what progress has been made on publishing the outline model for wheelchair services as part of the transforming community equipment and wheelchair services programme.

Ivan Lewis: The data analysis process has now been completed and the detailed business case is currently under consideration. The Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services Programme is working closely with senior executives in the national health service to agree the most appropriate way forward.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Eco-Towns

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if her Department will advise on the  (a) permeability and  (b) resilience to floods of materials used for homes in the new eco-towns; and if she will ensure that such materials are used in constructing such houses;
	(2)  what criteria homes in new eco-towns must meet in respect of the adaptation criteria for the Government's climate change objectives.

Caroline Flint: As we have set out in "Eco-towns—Living a greener future", eco-towns should show that they are sustainable under present climatic conditions, but are also resilient to future climate change. This will mean taking account of predicted changes in rainfall and increased temperature in building design and construction, not just for homes but all buildings, including schools, shops and offices. The precise features of climate change adaptation that are required will vary from place to place, but we will make sure that the process of locating and designing eco-towns respects the local circumstances, rather than setting a one-size-fits-all blueprint for what a future eco-town should look like.
	There is also a strong expectation for eco-towns to have all their built-up parts, including housing fully within Flood Zone 1 (the lowest risk). A water cycle study should be completed for the eco-town and related areas, and this includes an assessment of flood risk and surface water drainage.

Homelessness

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people have been registered as homeless in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Information about English local authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level. Constituency level information is not held centrally. The parliamentary constituency of Jarrow falls into two local authorities: South Tyneside and Gateshead.
	Information collected includes the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to secure that suitable accommodation is available). If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority must secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
	Since 1998, information has also been collected on the number of people who sleep rough—that is, those who are literally roofless on a single night.
	Summary tables showing the total number of households (a) accepted as owed a main homelessness duty and (b) in temporary accommodation, from 1997-98 to 2007-08, (c) rough sleeper estimates from 1998 to 2007, for each local authority, including South Tyneside and Gateshead, and (d) rough sleeper estimates by Government Office region are provided with this answer and have been placed in the Library.
	Extracts from the table, showing data for South Tyneside and Gateshead, are provided as shown.
	National and regional data on acceptances and temporary accommodation is published in our quarterly statistical release on Statutory Homelessness. This is published on our website and placed in the Library each quarter. The latest release was published on 12 June 2008, and provides national and regional acceptance figures in table 3, and temporary accommodation figures in table 7, both back to 1997:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/840324.xls
	Rough sleeping figures are also published on our website, back to 1997:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/152200.xls
	
		
			  Table A: Number of households accepted( 1)  as owed a main homelessness duty during the year, 1997-98 to 2007-08 
			  Local authority  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Gateshead 293 — 413 431 476 — — — — 648 626 
			 South Tyneside 150 — 202 225 321 379 595 573 286 294 213 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Number of households in temporary accommodation( 1) , March 1998 to March 2008 
			  Local authority  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Gateshead 7 13 14 7 10 — 271 24 16 18 36 
			 South Tyneside 56 61 48 5 6 13 51 26 18 22 11 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: Number of rough sleepers (persons), 1998-2007 (mid-year estimates( 1) ) 
			  Local authority  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Gateshead 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Tyneside 1 3 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0

Homelessness

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people aged  (a) under 18 and  (b) over 60 years old were homeless in each of the last 10 years.

Iain Wright: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected in respect of households rather than persons. The number of households accepted by local authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty, is not collected by specific ages, but since June 2006, data has been provided by the age band into which the applicant falls. These age bands include 16 to 24-year-olds, and 60 to 64-year-olds, 65 to 74-year-olds, and 75-year-olds and over. Data is provided in our Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, which is published on our website and placed in the Library each quarter:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
	The latest release was published on 12 June 2008 and contains data from June 2006 up to March 2008. Table 10(b) of the release contains details of acceptances by age band:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/840324.xls

Local Authorities: Energy

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities  (a) have planned and  (b) are implementing decentralised energy networks.

Iain Wright: The Department is aware of some local authorities which have taken steps, or are taking steps, to develop decentralised energy networks, for example Woking, and Southampton. The Department, however, does not hold information on this subject which is comprehensive across all local authorities.

Planning

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons her Department plans to abolish the needs test in the new edition of Planning Policy Statement 6.

Iain Wright: As set out in the Planning White Paper: "Planning for a Sustainable Future" in May 2007, the need test has proved to be a blunt instrument and can have the unintended effect of restricting competition and consumer choice. For example, a proposal on the edge of a town centre that would support the centre and bring wider benefits can be refused because the identified need is being met by an existing or proposed out of centre development.
	The Government are reviewing the current approach in "Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres" (PPS6) to assessing the impact of proposals outside town centres and will replace the need and impact tests with a new test which has a strong focus on our town centre first policy, and which promotes competition and improves consumer choice. We intend to publish a consultation paper on proposed revisions to PPS6 later this summer.

Planning: Thames Gateway

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the publication of the 2008-09 Thames Gateway Implementation Plan.

Caroline Flint: An exercise was undertaken with all the accountable bodies, local delivery partners in the Gateway and other Government Departments between February and May this year to understand their plans for implementing the Thames Gateway Delivery Plan published in November 2007. This has resulted in a clear set of agreed detailed baselines that provide the basis for more robust performance management of delivery and financial spend in the Thames Gateway. There are no plans to create or publish an overarching implementation plan or document.

Social Rented Housing: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what projection she has made of the likely future change in numbers of available social housing units in  (a) Chorley,  (b) South Ribble,  (c) Bolton and  (d) Preston.

Iain Wright: Social housing is funded by the Housing Corporation which in autumn 2007 published the National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP) 2008-11 Prospectus, which outlines priorities for funding over the three-year period.
	40 per cent. of the initial North West allocation of the 2008-11 NAHP has already been committed, with a total of £8.55 million allocated to 19 accepted schemes in the local authorities areas identified. In contrast to previous programmes, the Housing Corporation has decided not to allocate all the available resources at the first bidding round. Additional allocations are timetabled to be made quarterly, from April 2008 to October 2010 (or when resources are fully committed), to enable housing associations to be more responsive to land acquisition and development opportunities.
	The following table provides a breakdown of funding by local authority and Housing Corporation social housing type.
	
		
			  Sponsor LA Name  Type  Total grant requested (£)  Number of units 
			 Bolton LCHO 1,623,000 62 
			 Bolton RENT 2,316,196 44 
			 Chorley LCHO 600,000 30 
			 Chorley RENT 2,217,222 48 
			 Preston LCHO 150,000 5 
			 Preston RENT 1,650,000 15 
			 South Ribble — 0 0 
			 Total  8,556,418 204 
			  Notes: LCHO - Low Cost Home Ownership RENT - Socially Rented

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations her Department has received on the law in relation to gypsy caravan sites; and if she will establish a review of the operation of the relevant legislation.

Iain Wright: The Department receives a variety of correspondence in relation to Gypsy and Traveller policy. In December 2007, the independent Task Group on Site Provision and Enforcement for Gypsies and Travellers published its final report. It concluded that the Government's policy of firm but fair enforcement with proactive measures to increase site provision was the right approach. The Government published its response to the Task Group's report in April 2008. There are no plans to establish a review of the relevant Act(s).

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what restrictions exist on building traveller sites on sites of special scientific interest.

Iain Wright: Circular 1/06, "Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites", makes it clear that, in areas with nationally recognised designations such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, as with any other form of development, planning permission for Gypsy and Traveller sites should only be granted where it can be demonstrated that the objectives of the designation will not be compromised by the development.

PRIME MINISTER

10 Downing Street: Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister whether any  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications have been submitted in relation to the Downing street complex in the last 24 months.

Gordon Brown: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Phil Hope) on 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1186W.

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister on what date the euro changeover plan of Downing street was last updated; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version.

Gordon Brown: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Phil Hope) on 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1187W.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Departmental Accountancy

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's  (a) chart of accounts and  (b) resource account codes and usage descriptions for the current financial year.

Phil Hope: The Cabinet Office, like all Government Departments, is required by HM Treasury to map its resource accounting system to the Standard Chart of Accounts (SCOA), which is available on the Treasury website.

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many domestic air flights members of  (a) the Cabinet Office and  (b) the Central Office of Information undertook within mainland Britain in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Phil Hope: The information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the conferences hosted by his Department in each of the last two years; and what the cost was of each conference.

Edward Miliband: Units within the Cabinet Office use conferences and other types of event as one of a number of ways of engaging with stakeholders to support a range of Cabinet Office policies and activities.
	The Cabinet Office does not keep a separate central record of these conferences or spend on them. Therefore, this information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much his Department and its agency spent on branding and marketing activity in 2007-08.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office's accounts for the 2007-08 financial year are currently being audited so final figures on branding and marketing expenditure are not yet available.

Departmental Pay

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what proportion of employees in the Prime Minister's Office who received a performance-related bonus at their last appraisal were  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: The Prime Minister's Office forms part of the Cabinet Office.
	62 per cent. of Cabinet Office staff were awarded a bonus in the 2007 pay award. This represents 884 people out of a total of 1,432 eligible staff and includes both SCS and non-SCS staff. Information on sexuality was not collected.
	The following table shows the proportion of staff in each diversity group who received performance related bonuses:
	
		
			   Percentage receiving bonus  Number receiving bonus  Total eligible for bonus 
			  (a) Male 60.5 438 724 
			  (b) Female 63.0 446 708 
			  (c) Ethnic minority 59.7 80 134 
			  (d) Disabled 46.9 23 49

Strategy Unit: Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many members of the 10 Downing street Strategy Unit are seconded to each Government Department.

Tom Watson: The Strategy Unit is based in the Cabinet Office. The Strategy Unit currently has 23.5 members of staff either on loan to or co-located with other Government Departments: the Department for Children, Schools and Families (seven); the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (six); the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (five); the Department of Health (2.5); HM Treasury (one); the Home Office (one); and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (one).

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Animal Welfare: Departmental Responsibilities

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the respective role and responsibilities are of  (a) Trading Standards departments,  (b) his Department and  (c) others for the implementation of provision of European Council Directive 76/768 in respect of cosmetic experimentation on animals.

Gareth Thomas: The information is as follows.
	(a) Trading Standards departments have day to day enforcement responsibility for the Cosmetic Product Safety Regulations 2008, including requirements relating to animal testing,
	(b) The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is responsible for making the Cosmetic Product Safety Regulations and ensuring that proper enforcement procedures exist,
	(c) No other bodies in the UK have legal responsibility for the implementation and enforcement of the Cosmetic Product Safety Regulations in relation to animal testing.

Balance of Trade: Bees

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the UK's balance of trade in bees and bee products was in each year since 1997 in standard prices; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The following table gives HMRC overseas trade statistics for the value of trade in honey and wax. Data for trade in live bees cannot be separated from trade in other animals.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Exports of natural honey  Exports of beeswax and other insect waxes  Imports of natural honey  Imports of beeswax and other insect waxes  Implicit balance 
			 1997 2.2 1.2 23.7 1.4 (21.7) 
			 1998 1.6 0.8 20.9 1.2 (19.8) 
			 1999 1.4 0.4 16.1 1.4 (15.6) 
			 2000 1.5 0.6 16.4 1.2 (15.6) 
			 2001 1.2 0.2 20.0 1.2 (19.8) 
			 2002 2.8 0.4 34.1 1.6 (32.6) 
			 2003 2.7 0.6 39.2 1.5 (37.4) 
			 2004 3.2 0.6 39.7 1.3 (37.3) 
			 2005 2.5 0.4 35.0 1.4 (33.4) 
			 2006 2.9 0.6 38.5 1.8 (36.8) 
			 2007 3.6 0.5 42.6 1.4 (39.9)

Departmental Accountancy

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's  (a) chart of accounts and  (b) resource account codes and usage descriptions for the 2008-09 financial year.

Gareth Thomas: The Department's chart of accounts will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The chart of accounts for 2008-09 reflects the Department's structure for the year and will not necessarily reflect the 2007-08 structure, or that for future years. The chart shows the relationship between parent codes (used for preparing resource accounts) and children codes (used for more detailed management purposes). Each code has a brief description that describes its use.

Departmental Marketing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his Department's advertising and marketing budget was in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: Spending on advertising procured through the Central Office of Information in the last five financial years by the Department and the former DTI is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			  2007-08 
			 Nuclear Energy Consultation 2007-08 149,634 
			 Employing People 2007-08 77,447 
			 National Minimum Wage 2007-08 588,499 
			 Total 815,580 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
			  2006-07 
			 Consumer Direct - Thomson Directories 2006-07 581,424 
			 DTI Classified Recruitment 2006-07 11,457 
			 ACAS Miscellaneous Advertising Activity 2006-07 228,949 
			 Total 821,830 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
			  2005-06 
			 Consumer Direct 2005-06 1,447,850 
			 DTI Classified/Recruitment Advertising 2005-06 31,099 
			 SBS Business Link 2005-06 1,502,301 
			 New National Minimum Wage 2005-06 369,603 
			 Directgov - DTI Employee Franchise 2005-06 127,690 
			 Total 3,478,543 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
			  2004-05 
			 Consumer Direct 2004-05 706,488 
			 SBS Business Link 2004-05 552,712 
			 Import Licence Announcements 2004-05 74,300 
			 DTI Classified Recruitment Advertising 2004-05 41,007 
			 New Minimum Wage 2004-05 315,754 
			 Renewable Energy 200-05 15,542 
			 Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion 2004-05 30,494 
			 Firework Safety 2004-05 - (media only) 188,480 
			 DTI - Dispute Resolution (media only) 81,768 
			 SBS Press Media Buying Costs 2004-05 3,255 
			 Total 2,009,800 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
			  2003-04 
			 Parental Rights 2003-04 1,106,186 
			 Import Licence Announcements 2003-04 130,470 
			 Ex Miner Compensation 2003-04 384,875 
			 SBS Public Notice Advertising 2003-04 84,778 
			 SBS Business Link 2003-04 882,188 
			 DTI National Minimum Wage 2003-04 306,360 
			 Quality Mark Scheme 2003-04 189,973 
			 DTI EERA 13 2003-04 422,177 
			 DTI UK Online for Business 2003-04 163,965 
			 DTI Fireworks SMS Internet 2003-04 18,603 
			 DTI UK Online for Business Internet 2003-04 230,914 
			 DTI Consumer Gateway Internet 2003-04 37,686 
			 UK Trade and Investment 2003-04 194,784 
			 SBS Keyword 2003-04 20,799 
			 ACAS Awareness 2003-04 1,070,601 
			 Total 5,244,359

Departmental Trade Unions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which trades unions represent members of staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies.

Gareth Thomas: There are three unions representing members of staff in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and its agencies. These are the PDA, Prospect and the Public and Commercial Services Union.

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on what date the euro changeover plan of  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies was last updated; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of each.

Gareth Thomas: BERR's Euro Transition Plan, which covers the core Department and its agencies, was written in the autumn of 2004. Some amendments were made following endorsement by the management board in December 2004.
	The approach it sets out remains valid and it has not been changed since then.
	There are no plans at present to place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

Fair Trade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 387W, on Fairtrade initiative, what the value was of Fairtrade produce purchased at his Department's staff catering facilities in each of the last three financial years; and what proportion of total revenue this represented.

Gareth Thomas: This information is not held by the Department and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Foreign Investment in UK

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what percentage of all foreign direct inward investment projects was facilitated by UK trade and investment in the last year for which figures are available.

Gareth Thomas: In 2006-07, UK trade and investment (UKTI) facilitated 35 per cent. of all foreign direct inward investment projects, according to the data compiled by UKTI.

Foreign Investment in UK

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many foreign direct investment projects facilitated by UK Trade and Investment since its inception have involved takeovers by foreign firms.

Gareth Thomas: Since its inception in 2003, UK Trade and Investment has had some level of involvement in 108 acquisitions by foreign owned companies.

Home Information Packs

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether home information packs have been commissioned by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies to market a residential property.

Gareth Thomas: None. The requirement to prepare Home Information packs applies to the marketing for sale of residential properties. This Department and its executive agencies has not been involved in any such transactions.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State will reply to the letter of 19 March 2008 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on online privacy.

Gareth Thomas: My noble friend the Minister for Business and Competitiveness responded to the hon. Member on 11 June.

Public Bodies: Public Participation

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what guidance his Department has issued on the  (a) minimum and  (b) maximum periods for written consultations by public bodies.

Gareth Thomas: The Government has a code of practice on consultation which sets out how central Government's formal, written consultation exercises should be run. The first criterion of the code states that such consultation exercises should last for a minimum of 12 weeks. The code acknowledges that there will sometimes be circumstances that require a consultation period of less than 12 weeks but states that this should be the exception and should be avoided wherever possible.
	No guidance exists on maximum periods for written consultations.
	Public bodies outside of central Government are free to adopt their own approaches to consultation.

Retail Trade: Fees and Charges

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the maximum amount is that  (a) online retailers and  (b) high street retailers may charge consumers for using a (i) credit and (ii) debit card to make purchases.

Gareth Thomas: There is no prescribed maximum amount that retailers can charge consumers for using credit cards or debit cards to make purchases. However, under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, such charges, where material, must be transparent and not misleading.

Salmon: Imports

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment the Government has made of the likely effects of the removal of the minimum import price for salmon.

Gareth Thomas: The UK Government, in close consultation with the Scottish Executive and the Irish Government and the industry, made a detailed assessment of the likely effects of the removal of the minimum import price for salmon as proposed by the European Commission. In our assessment removal was likely to lead to a recurrence of dumping by Norwegian exporters. This assessment was submitted to the European Commission as part of its Interim Review of the measures. The European Commission however concluded that dumping was unlikely to recur and was supported in this view by the other 25 of member states.

UK Trade and Investment

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the division of responsibility is between the UK Trade and Investment offices in London and Glasgow.

Gareth Thomas: Our headquarters' operations in London and Glasgow are primarily concerned with front line delivery for business. The following are based at UKTFs Glasgow office:
	UKTI's Enquiry Service;
	The Tradeshow Access Programme;
	UKTI trade support for the Oil and Gas Sector and the Advanced Engineering Sector.
	The remainder of our HQ operations are based in London (except for a small presence in Cambridge).

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Departmental Trade Unions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which trades unions represent members of staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies.

Kevin Brennan: There are currently three trade unions recognised in my Department and its agencies and who represent members of my staff. They are the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which has a membership of around 1,240 staff (about 46 per cent.) with the FDA representing around 160 senior staff (about 6 per cent.); and Prospect, representing a small number of specialists such as information officers, economists, statisticians and accountants.

Education: Assessments

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children achieved the national standard in their Key Stage 1 exams in each school in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral; and what the national average mark was.

Jim Knight: The requested information is shown in the following table, which I have also placed in the Library.
	
		
			  Key Stage 1 teacher assessment results for all maintained schools in Wirral LA, 2007 
			 Percentage of pupils achieving Level 2 or above 
			  LA  DCSF No.  School name  Reading  Writing  Mathematics  Science 
			 344 2000 Bedford Drive Primary School 73 73 91 100 
			 344 2001 Bidston Village CE (Controlled) Primary School 67 67 73 78 
			 344 2021 Woodlands Primary School 72 69 81 83 
			 344 2048 Devonshire Park Primary School 84 71 93 84 
			 344 2100 New Brighton Primary School 82 83 93 93 
			 344 2101 Mount Primary School 89 84 95 100 
			 344 2102 Liscard Primary School 80 76 81 81 
			 344 2104 St. George's Primary School 96 91 97 100 
			 344 2107 Riverside Primary School 77 77 87 93 
			 344 2108 Kingsway Primary School 70 75 85 100 
			 344 2109 Poulton Primary School 74 70 87 91 
			 344 2110 Park Primary School 86 86 86 93 
			 344 2111 Somerville Primary School 70 52 81 83 
			 344 2112 Eastway Primary School 78 83 91 91 
			 344 2115 Castleway Primary School 68 64 77 68 
			 344 2116 Sandbrook Primary School 76 76 82 88 
			 344 2117 Greenleas Primary School 89 83 91 96 
			 344 2118 Lingham Primary School 79 82 91 97 
			 344 2200 Stanton Road Primary School 94 94 97 94 
			 344 2201 Woodslee Primary School 96 89 93 89 
			 344 2204 Town Lane Infant School 96 99 99 100 
			 344 2205 Grove Street Primary School 69 75 90 88 
			 344 2209 Bromborough Pool Primary School 100 100 100 100 
			 344 2212 Thornton Hough Primary School 84 89 89 89 
			 344 2214 Mendell Primary School 91 91 96 96 
			 344 2215 Brookhurst Primary School 97 97 100 100 
			 344 2217 Raeburn Primary School 94 90 100 100 
			 344 2218 Brackenwood Infant School 95 97 97 98 
			 344 2220 Greasby Infant School 95 97 98 98 
			 344 2221 West Kirby Primary School 92 95 100 100 
			 344 2224 Irby Primary School 97 81 97 97 
			 344 2226 Black Horse Hill Infant School 91 94 100 100 
			 344 2227 Brookdale Primary School 89 89 92 100 
			 344 2228 Pensby Infant School 92 96 92 100 
			 344 2229 Barnston Primary School 98 98 98 100 
			 344 2231 Poulton Lancelyn Primary School 90 90 97 97 
			 344 2234 Great Meols Primary School 96 95 98 98 
			 344 2238 Gayton Primary School 95 95 95 98 
			 344 2244 Egremont Primary School 79 55 88 93 
			 344 2249 Portland Primary School 69 69 73 81 
			 344 2250 Heswall Primary School 83 80 93 100 
			 344 2252 Fender Primary School 62 50 62 65 
			 344 2254 Manor Primary School 82 77 91 91 
			 344 2255 Mersey Park Primary School 69 79 92 92 
			 344 2256 Overchurch Infant School 82 85 91 93 
			 344 2258 Rock Ferry Primary School 72 68 84 88 
			 344 2260 Woodchurch Road Primary School 94 92 98 94 
			 344 2261 Cathcart Street Primary School 93 86 93 93 
			 344 2262 Cole Street Primary School 45 36 77 86 
			 344 2263 Well Lane Primary School 64 27 64 55 
			 344 2264 Thingwall Primary School 90 90 100 100 
			 344 2265 Arrowe Hill Primary School 89 89 89 100 
			 344 2266 Church Drive Primary School 85 85 93 96 
			 344 2267 Pensby Park Primary School 71 59 88 100 
			 344 2268 Leasowe Primary School 70 55 75 95 
			 344 2274 Heygarth Primary School 100 94 100 97 
			 344 2275 Bidston Avenue Primary School 93 93 93 98 
			 344 2276 Millfields Primary School 72 72 78 67 
			 344 2278 Townfield Primary School 90 90 97 98 
			 344 2279 Hillside Primary School 72 72 89 100 
			 344 3006 St. Mary's CofE Primary School 78 89 89 89 
			 344 3009 West Kirby St. Bridget's CofE Primary School 98 98 98 98 
			 344 3010 Hoylake Holy Trinity CofE Primary School 86 79 86 82 
			 344 3011 Birkenhead Christ Church CofE Primary School 74 57 57 78 
			 344 3300 Oxton St. Saviour's CofE Aided Primary School 100 97 97 100 
			 344 3304 Woodchurch CofE Primary School 80 60 70 97 
			 344 3321 St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School Upton 98 93 96 93 
			 344 3322 St. Peter's Catholic Primary School 83 52 41 52 
			 344 3324 St. Paul's Catholic Primary School 83 42 92 100 
			 344 3330 Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School 95 95 95 95 
			 344 3331 St. Alban's Catholic Primary School 69 53 82 86 
			 344 3333 St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wallasey 63 70 87 87 
			 344 3335 Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School 83 86 89 83 
			 344 3336 Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School 60 60 90 100 
			 344 3337 Moreton Christ Church CofE Primary School 94 92 98 100 
			 344 3350 St. Andrew's CofE Aided Primary School 87 87 100 100 
			 344 3351 Thurstaston Dawpool CofE Primary School 90 87 93 100 
			 344 3352 Heswall St. Peter's CofE Primary School 96 96 96 100 
			 344 3361 Christ The King Catholic Primary School 100 82 100 100 
			 344 3362 St. John's Catholic Infant School 93 88 89 89 
			 344 3364 Our Lady of Pity Catholic Primary School 95 88 90 92 
			 344 3365 Ladymount Catholic Primary School 93 89 96 100 
			 344 3366 The Priory Parish CofE Primary School 58 63 79 100 
			 344 3367 Our Lady and St. Edward's Catholic Primary School 67 67 81 74 
			 344 3368 Holy Cross Catholic Primary School 57 60 60 73 
			 344 3369 St. Anne's Catholic Primary School 72 59 90 90 
			 344 3370 St. Laurence's Catholic Primary School 70 40 80 90 
			 344 3371 St. Michael and All Angels Catholic Primary School 81 75 94 94 
			 344 3372 St. Werburgh's Catholic Primary School 83 83 91 96 
			 344 3373 St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead 95 87 93 93 
			 344 3374 Prenton Primary School 98 88 97 92 
			 344 7000 Hayfield School 0 0 0 0 
			 344 7005 Elleray Park School 0 0 0 0 
			 344 7010 Gilbrook School 33 33 33 33 
			 344 7014 The Lyndale School 0 0 0 0 
			 344 7017 Stanley School 0 0 0 0 
			
			 Wirral LA   84 81 89 92 
			 England (LA maintained only)   84 80 90 89 
			 England (all schools)   84 80 90 89

Head Teachers: Pay

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average salary for  (a) head teachers and  (b) deputy head teachers is in (i) Bournemouth and (ii) England.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not available for by local authority.
	The following table provides the average salary of head teachers and deputy head teachers employed in local authority maintained schools in England, March 2006 the latest information available.
	
		
			  Average salary(£) of full-time head and deputy head teachers in local authority maintained schools—Coverage: England; Year: 2006( 1) 
			   Head teachers  Deputy head teachers 
			 2006(1) 52,100 44,600 
			 (1) Provisional  Source: Database of Teacher Records

Pupils: Females

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many girls aged  (a) 14,  (b) 15,  (c) 16,  (d) 17 and  (e) 18 years attended schools in England in each year since 2003, broken down by (i) ethnicity and (ii) religion.

Jim Knight: The available information is shown in the tables.
	Religion of pupils is not collected centrally. The number of girls aged 14 to 18 by religious character of their school has been provided in the final tables.
	
		
			  Secondary schools( 1, 2, 3) : Number of girls aged 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 by ethnic group—Position in January each year 2003 to 2008 (provisional)—England 
			   2003 
			   Girls aged 14  Girls aged 15  Girls aged 16  Girls aged 17  Girls aged 18 
			 White 242,900 229,170 75,770 58,520 2,770 
			 White British 236,130 222,940 73,070 56,400 2,550 
			 Irish 1,200 1,100 470 380 30 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage 100 60 20 20 0 
			 Gypsy/Roma 170 130 20 10 (7)— 
			 Any other White background 5,310 4,930 2,200 1,700 190 
			   
			 Mixed 5,790 5,230 1,630 1,080 90 
			 White and Black Caribbean 2,170 1,920 390 230 30 
			 White and Black African 450 400 130 90 20 
			 White and Asian 1,030 900 420 290 10 
			 Any other Mixed background 2,140 2,010 700 470 30 
			   
			 Asian 17,650 17,160 7,900 6,420 1,160 
			 Indian 6,760 6,840 3,570 3,220 430 
			 Pakistani 6,580 6,220 2,590 1,920 470 
			 Bangladeshi 2,780 2.640 910 680 150 
			 Any other Asian background 1,530 1.460 830 590 110 
			   
			 Black 9,850 9,610 2,890 1,940 520 
			 Black Caribbean 4,530 4,340 1,120 690 130 
			 Black African 4,080 4,100 1,460 1.040 340 
			 Any other Black background 1,240 1,170 310 220 40 
			   
			 Chinese 980 960 580 550 80 
			   
			 Any other ethnic group 2,100 1,920 860 670 110 
			   
			 Classified(4) 279,270 264,050 89,630 69,170 4,720 
			   
			 Unclassified(5) 14,230 14,930 5,450 4,680 360 
			   
			 Minority Ethnic Pupils(6) 43,140 41,110 16,560 12,770 2,170 
			   
			 Total 293,490 278,980 95,080 73,850 5,080 
		
	
	
		
			   2004 
			   Girls aged 14  Girls aged 15  Girls aged 16  Girls aged 17  Girls aged 18 
			 White 241,840 241,350 79,100 60,950 2,990 
			 White British 234,750 234.610 76,040 58,810 2,770 
			 Irish 1,200 1,150 480 390 20 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage 80 60 10 10 0 
			 Gypsy/Roma 160 160 20 10 (7)— 
			 Any other White background 5,650 5,360 2.540 1,730 200 
			   
			 Mixed 6,330 5,810 2,040 1,380 130 
			 White and Black Caribbean 2,330 2,150 550 290 30 
			 White and Black African 580 470 190 120 10 
			 White and Asian 1,170 1,070 490 370 30 
			 Any other Mixed background 2,250 2.130 810 600 50 
			   
			 Asian 17,090 17,680 8,290 6,740 1,330 
			 Indian 6,320 6.830 3,810 3,230 520 
			 Pakistani 6,390 6,510 2.600 2,070 530 
			 Bangladeshi 2,710 2,760 960 710 170 
			 Any other Asian background 1.670 1,590 920 730 110 
			   
			 Black 10,480 10,040 3,290 2,330 590 
			 Black Caribbean 4,590 4,450 1,180 820 170 
			 Black African 4,670 4,400 1,740 1,270 380 
			 Any other Black background 1,220 1,200 360 240 40 
			   
			 Chinese 1,090 1,030 590 560 100 
			   
			 Any other ethnic group 2,240 2,110 1,010 730 160 
			   
			 Classified(4) 279,050 278,010 94,310 72,680 5,300 
			   
			 Unclassified(5) 10,380 11,020 4,230 3,490 300 
			   
			 Minority Ethnic Pupils(6) 44,300 43,400 18,270 13,870 2,530 
			   
			 Total 289,430 289,030 98,540 76,170 5,600 
		
	
	
		
			   2005 
			   Girls aged 14  Girls aged 15  Girls aged 16  Girls aged 17  Girls aged 18 
			 White 245,430 238,310 81,880 63,140 3,300 
			 White British 238,250 231,410 78,690 60,740 3,070 
			 Irish 1,160 1,130 510 390 30 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage 80 70 20 10 0 
			 Gypsy/Roma 150 160 10 10 (7)— 
			 Any other White background 5,780 5,540 2,660 1,980 200 
			   
			 Mixed 6,720 6,210 2,170 1,610 150 
			 White and Black Caribbean 2.610 2,290 590 400 40 
			 White and Black African 630 610 200 160 20 
			 White and Asian 1,220 1,140 510 400 30 
			 Any other Mixed background 2,260 2,180 860 650 60 
			   
			 Asian 17,760 17,100 8,610 7,000 1,400 
			 Indian 6,430 6,350 3,820 3,380 510 
			 Pakistani 6,530 6,350 2,770 2,060 550 
			 Bangladeshi 2,970 2,670 1,030 760 170 
			 Any other Asian background 1.840 1,730 980 810 170 
			   
			 Black 10,700 10,550 3,430 2,550 650 
			 Black Caribbean 4,480 4,470 1,190 860 180 
			 Black African 5,000 4,950 1,860 1,430 430 
			 Any other Black background 1,220 1,140 390 260 50 
			   
			 Chinese 1,040 1,130 650 570 110 
			   
			 Any other ethnic group 2,410 2,360 1,180 870 190 
			   
			 Classified(4) 284,060 275,670 97,920 75,730 5,790 
			   
			 Unclassified(5) 8,740 9,560 4,110 3,150 310 
			   
			 Minority Ethnic Pupils(6) 45,810 44,260 19,230 14,980 2,720 
			   
			 Total 292,800 285,230 102,030 78,880 6,100 
		
	
	
		
			   2006 
			   Girls aged 14  Girls aged 15  Girls aged 16  Girls aged 17  Girls aged 18 
			 White 249,520 242,630 82,330 66,050 3,100 
			 White British 242,020 235,360 78,760 63,450 2,840 
			 Irish 1,130 1,120 490 420 30 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage 90 60 10 10 0 
			 Gypsy/Roma 190 140 20 10 (7)— 
			 Any other White background 6,090 5,950 3,060 2,160 240 
			   
			 Mixed 7,510 6,800 2,400 1,820 160 
			 White and Black Caribbean 2,960 2,610 620 450 40 
			 White and Black African 680 640 230 160 20 
			 White and Asian 1,380 1,240 580 470 40 
			 Any other Mixed background 2,490 2,320 980 740 70 
			   
			 Asian 18,300 17,930 8,680 7,420 1,350 
			 Indian 6,370 6,470 3,740 3,460 520 
			 Pakistani 6,840 6,530 2,790 2,240 490 
			 Bangladeshi 2,880 2,960 990 820 170 
			 Any other Asian background 2,220 1,960 1,170 900 180 
			   
			 Black 11,010 10,920 3,640 2,720 720 
			 Black Caribbean 4,340 4,360 1,200 830 190 
			 Black African 5,440 5,310 2,050 1,600 470 
			 Any other Black background 1,230 1,250 390 290 60 
			   
			 Chinese 1,020 1,080 710 630 100 
			   
			 Any other ethnic group 2,410 2,360 1,160 910 160 
			   
			 Classified(4) 289,760 281,720 98,920 79,530 5,600 
			   
			 Unclassified(5) 6,420 7,160 3,600 2,810 230 
			   
			 Minority Ethnic Pupils(6) 47,740 46,360 20,160 16,080 2,760 
			   
			 Total 296,180 288,880 102,520 82,350 5,830 
		
	
	
		
			   2007 
			   Girls aged 14  Girls aged 15  Girls aged 16  Girls aged 17  Girls aged 18 
			 White 246,680 246,390 85,310 66,220 3,750 
			 White British 238,740 238,670 81,480 63,330 3,440 
			 Irish 1,080 1,100 510 400 20 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage 80 70 10 10 0 
			 Gypsy/Roma 250 180 20 10 (7)— 
			 Any other White background 6,520 6,370 3,290 2,470290 — 
			   
			 Mixed 8,060 7,460 2,680 2,000210 — 
			 White and Black Caribbean 3,070 2,870 750 480 50 
			 White and Black African 800 680 250 190 40 
			 White and Asian 1,490 1,400 630 510 30 
			 Any other Mixed background 2,700 2,510 1,050 820 90 
			   
			 Asian 18,860 18,540 9,010 7,500 1,540 
			 Indian 6,400 6,490 3,720 3,370560 — 
			 Pakistani 7,220 6,850 2,800 2,280580 — 
			 Bangladeshi 2,840 2,870 1,170 790 180 
			 Any other Asian background 2,400 2,330 1,310 1,070230 — 
			   
			 Black 11,370 11,210 3,880 2,960760 — 
			 Black Caribbean 4,090 4,270 1,250 920 170 
			 Black African 5,950 5,710 2,210 1,710540 — 
			 Any other Black background 1,330 1,230 420 330 50 
			   
			 Chinese 1,070 1,080 710 690 120 
			   
			 Any other ethnic group 2,600 2,490 1,230 960 210 
			   
			 Classified(4) 288,630 287,170 102,820 80,320 6,590 
			   
			 Unclassified(5) 4,910 5,400 2,900 2,440260 — 
			   
			 Minority Ethnic Pupils(6) 49,890 48,510 21,340 16,990 3,160 
			   
			 Total 293,540 292,570 105,710 82,760 6,850 
		
	
	
		
			   2008 (provisional) 
			   Girls aged 14  Girls aged 15  Girls aged 16  Girls aged 17  Girls aged 18 
			 White 236,180 243,520 85,850 68,360 4,100 
			 White British 226,940 234,640 81,550 64,970 3,680 
			 Irish 940 1,070 490 420 30 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage 80 60 10 (7)— (7)— 
			 Gypsy/Roma 290 230 20 10 (7)— 
			 Any other White background 7,930 7,520 3,790 2,960 390 
			   
			 Mixed 8,460 8,010 2,950 2,190 210 
			 White and Black Caribbean 3,210 3,030 840 560 50 
			 White and Black African 840 790 250 200 20 
			 White and Asian 1,570 1,480 700 530 40 
			 Any other Mixed background 2,840 2,710 1,170 910 100 
			   
			 Asian 19,840 19,250 9,580 7,850 1,610 
			 Indian 6,470 6,510 3,910 3,340 530 
			 Pakistani 7,590 7,260 3,040 2,320 610 
			 Bangladeshi 3,020 2,850 1,170 980 180 
			 Any other Asian background 2,760 2,620 1,460 1,210 290 
			   
			 Black 11,910 11,480 4,260 3,190 860 
			 Black Caribbean 4,110 4,000 1,280 980 210 
			 Black African 6,490 6,130 2,540 1,870 580 
			 Any other Black background 1,310 1,350 440 330 80 
			   
			 Chinese 1,060 1,110 680 680 130 
			   
			 Any other ethnic group 2,810 2,650 1,330 1,050 230 
			   
			 Classified(4) 280,260 286,020 104,650 83,320 7,120 
			   
			 Unclassified(5) 4,070 4,230 2,150 1,920 230 
			   
			 Minority Ethnic Pupils(6) 53,320 51,380 23,100 18,350 3,450 
			   
			 Total 284,320 290,250 106,800 85,240 7,350 
			 (1) Excludes dually registered pupils. (2) Includes middle schools as deemed. (3) Includes City technology colleges and academies. (4) Pupils aged 14, 15, 16. 17 and 18 were classified according to ethnic group. Age at start of academic year (31 August). (5) Information refused or not obtained. (6) Includes all pupils classified as belonging to an ethnic group other than White British. (7) Less than five.  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source. School Census 
		
	
	
		
			  Secondary schools( 1, 2) : Number of girls aged 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 by religious character—Position in January each year 2003 to 2008 (provisional—England 
			   2003 
			   Girls aged 14  Girls aged 15  Girls aged 16  Girls aged 17  Girls aged 18 
			 No Religious character 249,330 236,690 77,350 59,930 4,130 
			 Church of England 13,050 12,530 5,120 4,080 270 
			 Roman Catholic 28,700 27,500 11,110 8,520 620 
			 Methodist 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other Christian Faith(3) 1,760 1,630 1,100 970 30 
			 Jewish 540 520 350 320 20 
			 Muslim 50 60 40 30 (4)— 
			 Sikh 30 30 10 10 10 
			 Other 30 30 (4)— 0 0 
			 Total 293,490 278,980 95,080 73,850 5,080 
		
	
	
		
			   2004 
			   Girls aged 14  Girls aged 15  Girls aged  16  Girls aged  17  Girls aged 18 
			 No Religious character 245,870 245,460 80,320 61,670 4,600 
			 Church of England 13,220 13,020 5,450 4,250 260 
			 Roman Catholic 27,880 28,060 11,200 8,890 680 
			 Methodist 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other Christian Faith(3) 1,980 1,990 1,210 1,060 30 
			 Jewish 380 400 320 260 20 
			 Muslim 60 50 40 40 10 
			 Sikh 30 30 20 10 (4)— 
			 Other 20 30 0 0 0 
			 Total 289,430 289,030 98,540 76,170 5,600 
		
	
	
		
			   2005 
			   Girls aged 14  Girls aged 15  Girls aged  16  Girls aged  17  Girls aged 18 
			 No Religious character 248,190 241,730 83,080 63,800 4,970 
			 Church of England 13,340 13,310 5,660 4,580 290 
			 Roman Catholic 28,530 27,530 11,610 9,070 750 
			 Methodist 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other Christian Faith(3) 2,140 2,140 1,280 1,100 60 
			 Jewish 430 410 350 280 10 
			 Muslim 120 60 40 40 10 
			 Sikh 30 30 20 20 (4)— 
			 Other 30 20 (4)— 0 0 
			 Total 292,800 285,230 102,030 78,880 6,100 
		
	
	
		
			   2006 
			   Girls aged 14  Girls aged 15  Girls aged 16  Girls aged 17  Girls aged 18 
			 No Religious character 250,680 244,180 83,410 66,490 4,770 
			 Church of England 14,090 13,430 5,840 4,780 310 
			 Roman Catholic 28,330 28,190 11,410 9,490 710 
			 Methodist 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other Christian Faith(3) 2,470 2,420 1,460 1,200 40 
			 Jewish 440 480 350 340 10 
			 Muslim 120 110 30 40 10 
			 Sikh 30 30 20 20 (4)— 
			 Other 20 30 0 0 0 
			 Total 296,180 288,880 102,520 82,350 5,830 
		
	
	
		
			   2007 
			   Girls aged 14  Girls aged 15  Girls aged 16  Girls aged 17  Girls aged 18 
			 No Religious character 247,440 246,920 86,060 66,880 5,670 
			 Church of England 14,130 14,090 5,860 4,960 350 
			 Roman Catholic 28,320 28,100 11,880 9,300 760 
			 Methodist 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other Christian Faith(3) 2,890 2,800 1,440 1,270 60 
			 Jewish 490 440 400 310 10 
			 Muslim 200 180 70 30 10 
			 Sikh 60 30 20 20 0 
			 Other 20 20 (4)— 0 0 
			 Total 293,540 292,570 105,710 82,760 6,850 
		
	
	
		
			   2008 (provisional) 
			   Girls aged 14  Girls aged 15  Girls aged 16  Girls aged 17  Girls aged 18 
			 No Religious character 238,700 244,230 86,630 68,990 6,040 
			 Church of England 13,990 13,920 6,010 4,870 370 
			 Roman Catholic 27,380 27,920 11,950 9,610 850 
			 Methodist 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other Christian Faith(3) 3,380 3,290 1,770 1,370 80 
			 Jewish 480 480 330 340 10 
			 Muslim 340 330 80 60 10 
			 Sikh 30 60 30 20 (4)— 
			 Other 30 20 0 0 0 
			 Total 284,320 290,250 106,800 85,240 7,350 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Excludes dually registered pupils. (3) Includes pupils of mixed denomination or other Christian beliefs. (4) Less than five.  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census and Edubase

Teachers: Pay

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of teachers qualified for performance-related pay in each year since it was introduced.

Jim Knight: The award of performance related pay is a matter for schools to determine locally and in the interests of reducing burdens on schools we do not require the reporting of individual discretionary payments. This information is not collected centrally.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa: Abortions

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much he has allocated to tackling unsafe abortions in Africa; and on what projects this funding is being committed.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development's (DFID) main allocation to tackling unsafe abortions in Africa is £7.5 million through the 'Safe Abortion Action Fund', administered by the International Planned Parenthood Foundation (IPPF) and Ipas. This investment aims to strengthen regional organisations and networks that advocate for safe abortion; support advocacy and production of policy relevant research; have an impact at country level and regional level on policy change and service delivery; and increase utilisation of quality safe abortion and post-abortion services.
	DFID also provides significant resources via government budgets in Africa to strengthen countries' health systems including sexual and reproductive health services (e.g. in 2006-07, £257.6 million to general budget support and £21.2 million direct to government health budgets).
	DFID also supports African countries to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services and supplies, and sex education. For example, DFID has committed £100 million over five years to United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) to improve access to family planning and reproductive health supplies. In Ethiopia, DFID had distributed 1.3 million condoms by the end of August 2007. DFID is also funding a £35 million programme with the Population Council called 'transitions to adulthood', which is helping nine developing countries—including South Africa, Uganda and Kenya—to develop better curricula for gender education, including sex education.

Africa: Economic Growth

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the role of higher economic growth rates is in meeting the millennium development goals in Africa; and what recent steps he has taken to support the rate of economic growth in Africa.

Douglas Alexander: Economic growth is essential for the achievement of the millennium development goals (MDGs). MDG 1, by definition, requires growth in the incomes of the poor. Sustainable achievement of the other MDGs requires African countries to generate the resources, through economic growth, to provide schools, hospitals, roads, sanitation and safe drinking water to their people.
	Better infrastructure is a key constraint to faster growth in Africa. The Infrastructure Consortium for Africa is facilitating more effective infrastructure investment and there has been a 20 per cent. increase in investment since 2005. DFID increased its support to the Consortium secretariat in 2007. The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Facility (EAIF), which is supported by DFID, facilitates and leverages private sector financing. As of December 2007 the facility had loan commitments totalling $384.5 million (£192 million) in 15 projects. EAIF projects have led to private sector commitments of more than $4 billion (£2 billion). The government of Rwanda has asked DFID to help it with 'Growth Analytics', to prioritise actions to help get higher growth rates. This promising work has led other African countries to seek DFID's advice.
	Further examples can be found in DFID's Annual Report, available at
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Africa: Economic Growth

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the average rate of economic growth was in sub-Saharan Africa in the last three years; and what estimate he has made of the contribution of the UK to such economic development.

Douglas Alexander: Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa over the course of 2005-2007 averaged 6.3 per cent. per annum. The same figure for 1997-2002 was 4 per cent. This is encouraging, but growth is still below the 7 per cent. rate which is thought necessary to achieve the millennium development goals and there are concerns about the sustainability of growth in Africa.
	UK aid is supporting economic development in a number of ways. For example, the Department for International Development (DFID) played a key role in the establishment and successful launch of the Investment Climate Facility (ICF) in 2006 to help strengthen Africa's business environment. Since then, ICF-funded projects have started in Rwanda, the East African Community, Lesotho, Liberia and Tanzania.
	Better economic infrastructure (energy, transport, communications and water resources) is essential for faster growth. The Infrastructure Consortium for Africa is facilitating more effective infrastructure investment and there has been a substantial increase in investment since 2005. DFID increased its support to the Consortium secretariat in 2007. Further examples can be found in DFID's Annual Report, available at
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Africa: Maternal Mortality

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to reduce maternal mortality rates in Africa.

Douglas Alexander: Reducing maternal mortality in Africa is a UK Government priority. The Department for International Development (DFID) will continue to support partner governments to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services and commodities through DFID-funded country programmes, through regional and global advocacy, and through funding global and regional research, in line with the African Union Maputo Plan of Action on Maternal health and the DFID strategy 'Reducing maternal deaths: evidence and action'.
	Better health systems and services are essential to reducing maternal mortality. DFID will spend £6 billion by 2015 for these purposes, a significant proportion in Africa.
	DFID has committed £100 million over five years to United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) to improve access to family planning and reproductive health supplies. Africa will be a major recipient. At a country level in Africa, DFID is currently funding a range of health programmes that will help reduce maternal mortality, including a £100 million commitment in Malawi (over six years) £140 million commitment in Nigeria (over six years), a £24 million commitment in Zimbabwe (over four years), and £50 million commitment in Sierra Leone (over 10 years). Substantial funding is also provided through general budget support in some countries, as in Tanzania, where 11 per cent. of DFID's £105 million expenditure through this channel was used to finance the health sector.

African Enterprise Challenge Fund

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department has provided to the African Enterprise Challenge Fund; and what assessment he has made of its impact on the region.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing £10 million over three years to the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa for the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund. The fund became operational early June 2008 following the recruitment of a fund manager. It is, therefore, too early to assess its impact.

Departmental Sick Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much sick pay to staff in his Department cost in the last five years for which figures are available.

Douglas Alexander: Without incurring disproportionate cost it is not possible to provide an accurate figure for the cost of sickness pay.

Departmental Trade Unions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which trades unions represent members of staff in his Department.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) recognises two trade unions as representatives of our UK based staff—the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and the Association of First Division Civil Servants (FDA).

Developing Countries: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how funds released by the revocation or reduction of aid allocations to overseas governments are treated.

Douglas Alexander: Any funds not disbursed to overseas governments are reallocated to other programmes.

Developing Countries: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how and when his Department announces allocations of UK development aid.

Douglas Alexander: The allocation of UK development assistance is announced and published by HM Treasury at the settlement of the comprehensive spending review. This information was last published in October 2007 and is currently available on the HM Treasury website.
	DFID publishes more detailed information about annual aid allocations in the departmental annual report which is published in May of each year.

Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the purpose of the Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact is; and what its terms of reference are.

Gareth Thomas: The Committee has been established in order to strengthen and assure the independence of the evaluation function in DFID and the use of evaluation results to enhance delivery and impact of UK development assistance.
	The terms of reference can be found here:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/aboutdfid/performance/files/iacdi-tors.pdf

Mozambique: Children

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which organisations his Department is working with in Mozambique to provide support for pregnant women and children under five years old.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) works closely with the Government of Mozambique to support the health of mothers and children under the age of five. DFID as the focal donor for the health sector in Mozambique co-ordinates the support of 26 agencies (including DFID) who provide funding to the health sector. These partners are the World Bank, World Health Organisation, USAID, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNAIDS, Global Fund for Aids TB and Malaria (GFATM), the Clinton Foundation, President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), Swiss Development Co-operation, Norway, Netherlands, Japan, Italy, Ireland, France, Finland, Flanders, the EC, Denmark, Canada, Spain and Catalunia.
	In addition, DFID provides project support through the Malaria Consortium to support the Government of Mozambique to achieve its target of having 95 per cent. of pregnant women and children under the age of five sleeping under a treated mosquito net in the three northern provinces. The DFID programme runs from 2005 to 2010 with a budget of £8.5 million and is being implemented by Malaria Consortium in five provinces.
	In the health sector UK development assistance has enabled the Government to meet its 2007 target of an extra 35,000 women giving birth in a clinic, and ensured that 64 per cent. of children under one were fully immunized against five priority vaccine-preventable diseases.

Nepal: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of his Department's contribution to poverty reduction in Nepal; and what programmes exist to sustain economic growth in Nepal.

Douglas Alexander: Recent poverty reduction in Nepal has been impressive. Despite the conflict it reduced from 42 per cent. in 1995-96 to 31 per cent. in 2003-04, the latest year for which data are available. A key driver of poverty reduction, according to the World Bank, was better rural infrastructure, in which DFID has invested £42 million since 2000 to build 1,500 km of rural roads and 2,200 bridges. We will invest a further £28 million in rural infrastructure over the next three years. DFID has supported poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth in other ways. In the last five years we have invested £20 million in education and £50 million in health, contributing to a 5 percentage point increase in school enrolments and a halving of child mortality over the last decade. DFID has invested £12 million over the last five years in rural livelihoods programmes which have benefited 550,000 people and lifted 130 thousand people out of poverty. DFID's investment of £19 million over 10 years in community forestry will help almost one fifth of the population of Nepal to make a better and more sustainable living from forest resources.

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development study commissioned by his Department on promoting partnership in development work.

Douglas Alexander: Effective partnerships based on shared commitments to poverty reduction are important to achieving positive development objectives. DFID regards work done with partners in the OECD as a vital tool in promoting effective partnerships. We will continue to support the work done by the OECD and others.
	Despite thorough checks in London and with the OECD in Paris, we are not aware to which report this question refers.

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) criteria are used and  (b) process is followed in determining whether breaches of aid partnership commitments should give use to (i) revocation and (ii) reduction of aid allocations.

Douglas Alexander: The joint DFID, FCO and HM Treasury policy paper "Partnerships for poverty reduction: rethinking conditionality" (2005) states that a successful aid partnership depends on shared commitments to:
	Poverty reduction and achieving the MDGs
	Respecting human rights and other international obligations
	Strengthening financial management and accountability
	The UK will consider reducing or interrupting aid if partner countries breach these commitments. Table 5.2 of DFID's annual report provides details of changes to programmes as a result of a breach of conditions during 2007-08. The report is available through DFID's website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.
	The UK conditionality policy commits us to agreeing with partner Governments in advance a process for considering whether there has been a breach. We aim to have a substantial period of discussion with the partner Government to enable us to explain our concerns and understand their position. We are committed to greater transparency about conditionality by making public our decisions and the evidence on which they are based, as we do in DFID's annual report.

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what process his Department follows for assessing the performance of its aid projects; and what definition he uses of success in assessing aid project outcomes.

Gareth Thomas: All of the Department for International Development's (DFID) projects and programmes identify what problems they will address, what the money will be spent on and who will benefit to ensure that they have as much impact as possible in improving the lives of poor people.
	DFID's projects and programmes of £1 million or more include a measurement framework against which performance is monitored. Operational projects are scored annually throughout their duration to assess the likelihood of achieving their intended objectives. Projects are then scored on completion according to whether they achieved their intended objectives. See table 1 as follows.
	Projects are monitored routinely to check that they are on track by active management by DFID's regional divisions.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  Score  DFID description  Achievement of outputs 
			 1 Likely to be completely achieved The outputs/purpose are well on the way to completion (or completed) 
			
			 2 Likely to be largely achieved There is good progress towards purpose completion and most outputs have been achieved, particularly the most important 
			
			 3 Likely to be partly achieved Only partial achievement of the purpose is likely and/or achievement of some outputs 
			
			 4 Only likely to be achieved to a very limited extent Purpose unlikely to be achieved but a few outputs likely to be achieved 
			
			 5 Unlikely to be achieved No progress on outputs or purpose 
			
			 X Too early to judge It is impossible to say whether there has been any progress towards the final achievement of outputs or purpose

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place a copy in the Library of each institutional strategy paper for multilateral aid organisations.

Douglas Alexander: We will place copies of all current institutional strategies in the Library by 30 June. These are already in the public domain. Some are due for renewal in 2008. As we agree new institutional strategies, we will also place these in the Library.

Overseas Aid: Standards

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what obligations arise from adherence to the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness; and who the signatories to that declaration are, broken down by  (a) nationality and  (b) status.

Gareth Thomas: The Paris Declaration commits signatories to meet, by 2010, 12 indicators which are guided by five principles:
	(a) Ownership: Partner countries exercise effective leadership over their development policies and strategies and co-ordinate development actions;
	(b) Alignment: Donors base their overall support on partner countries' national development strategies, institutions and procedures;
	(c) Harmonisation: Donors' actions are more harmonised, transparent and collectively effective;
	(d) Managing for results: Managing resources and improved decision-making for results;
	(e) Mutual accountability: Donors and partners are accountable for development results.
	Details of signatories to the Paris Declaration can be found through the OECD-DAC's website
	http://www.oecd.orq/document/22/0.3343.en_2649_33721_ 36074966_1_1_1_1.00.html.

Overseas Aid: Standards

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the relative performance of donors who have signed up to the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.

Douglas Alexander: Monitoring of the Paris Declaration is carried out by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) through a survey, completed by both partner countries and donors.
	The first survey was carried out in 2006. The survey showed that DFID has already met or is on track to meet its targets by 2010. More generally, it showed that, while a number of efforts are being made to implement the Paris Declaration, both donors and partners need to step up their efforts if the targets are to be met by 2010. Priorities for donors include better alignment with country priorities, reducing transactions costs, better use of performance assessment frameworks to promote managing for results, and mutual accountability (where donors and partner governments are both accountable for delivering on commitments made).
	The second survey was conducted earlier this year. Results will be published ahead of the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness taking place in Accra in September. Details of the survey can be found through the DAC website
	http://www.oecd.orq/document/20/0.3343.en_2649_ 15577209_38521876_1_1_1_1.00.html.

Sierra Leone: Water Supply

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether there is a strategy in place for UK aid aimed at improving the provision of safe water and sanitation services to Sierra Leone; and what agencies his Department is working with on this matter.

Gareth Thomas: The UK has approved a £32 million programme over five years to improve the provision of safe and sustainable water and sanitation in Sierra Leone. The programme aims to strengthen the Government's ability to provide water and sanitation services and deliver real benefits for the poor—enabling an additional 1.5 million people to access safe water and sanitation.
	The principal partner for this nationwide programme is the Government of Sierra Leone. We are also working with UNICEF and NGOs; including PLAN, Oxfam, and Goal.

South Asia: Females

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes are being implemented by his Department to promote equality and the empowerment of women in the South Asia region.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) is prioritising equality and women's empowerment in a variety of ways. Firstly DFID provides significant funding for education and health sectors, which can have a huge impact on human development outcomes for girls and women. In Pakistan, DFID is contributing up to £90 million for a new National Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Programme. In India, DFID is providing £220 million to the National 'Education For All' programme which sets measurable disaggregated targets to reduce the gender gap in school enrolment.
	Secondly, DFID also supports numerous programmes that increase women's access to financial services, economic opportunities and political space. In Bangladesh, DFID is providing £75 million over seven years to the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) (a large NGO), for the second phase of a programme that aims to help 800,000 extremely poor women and their households achieve sustainable livelihoods. In Nepal, DFID's Rights, Democracy and Inclusion Fund (RDIF) supports a three year project focused on strengthening the capacity of women political leaders and cadres to implement democratic and inclusive governance. In Afghanistan, DFID has provided £20 million to the Micro-Finance and Investment Support Facility of Afghanistan which aims to improve women's access to micro credit loans.

South Asia: Peacekeeping Operations

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to increase the security of aid for South Asia.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has in place robust financial procedures for all programmes. DFID completes a rigorous Fiduciary Risk Assessment (FRA) before all general and sector budget support is agreed. These examine the Government systems through which our money will be spent, identifies weaknesses and sets up monitoring mechanisms for improvement over a period of time.

Sri Lanka: Politics and Government

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what personnel have been deployed to work for the Global Conflict Prevention Pool for Sri Lanka; and in what roles.

Douglas Alexander: This fiscal year, the British high commission in Sri Lanka deploys eight staff members, a significant percentage of whose time is spent working on Conflict Prevention Pool (CPP) issues. In total this adds up to almost three full-time staff members. Their roles are deputy head of mission; defence attaché; second secretary; head of section; senior programme manager; and three locally employed administrative staff.
	In addition to this, there are four advisory staff based in London, working for DFID and the cross-Whitehall Security Sector Development Advisory Team (SSDAT), who are deployed to Sri Lanka to work on CPP issues in Sri Lanka for short periods of time, as and when required.

Zambia: Education

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to improve the provision of free primary education in Zambia since 2000.

Douglas Alexander: DFID has supported the provision of free primary education in Zambia since 2000 through two reform programmes; The Basic Education Sub-Sector Investment Programme (1999-2002) and the Education Sector Strategic Plan (2003-07). The Basic Education Sub Sector Investment Programme together with Zambia's Free Primary Education policy increased enrolment by 10 per cent. and halved the number of children out of school. These programmes were financed by a multi-donor education fund to which DFID contributed £22.1 million.
	Between 2000 and 2006 net enrolment rates in primary grades increased from 71 to 97 per cent. while primary school completion rates improved from 63 to 85 per cent. The number of children out of school in Zambia fell from around 600,000 in 1998 to 67,000 in 2005.
	From 1998-2005, DFID also funded a £10 million Primary Reading Programme which resulted in improvements of up to 500 per cent. in literacy performance in grades 1-3 in 2005 and overall improvements in the primary school completion exams at grade 7.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Extradition

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which countries the UK is discussing extradition arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government continue to keep their extradition relations with other states under review. Communications with foreign governments are confidential in order to preserve the confidence of the other state. This includes negotiations on potential extradition treaties.